How to Treat a Water Moccasin Snake Bite
If you know or suspect a venomous water moccasin snake — also known as the cottonmouth moccasin snake — has bitten someone, prompt treatment is imperative. Symptoms include pain, swelling and bleeding at the site of the wound, difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, nausea and vomiting, numbness and tingling, skin-color changes, thirst, tiredness, tissue damage and weakness.
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Instructions
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Call for emergency assistance as soon as possible. Try to keep the victim calm and restrict movement. Keep the affected area lower than the heart to slow the movement of the venom.
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Use a pump suction device if you have one available to remove as much of the venom as possible. Follow the manufacturer’s directions.
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Remove any constricting items near the bite, including rings. This area may swell and it is easier to remove the items before swelling occurs.
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Monitor vital signs such as temperature, pulse, rate of breathing and blood pressure as much as you can with the tools you have available.
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Treat for shock if the victim exhibits signs of trauma such as pale skin, clamminess and shaking. Lay the victim flat, raising his feet about 1 foot into the air. Cover the victim with a blanket.
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Tips & Warnings
If you have killed the snake and can safely take it with you, do so for identification purposes. Do not hunt for the snake or risk another bite. Take caution because a reflex action can cause a snake to bite up to an hour after it has died.
If you have a cell phone, call the National Poison Control Center while you are waiting for help to arrive.
Avoid snake bites by leaving snakes alone, wearing tall rubber boots if you will be walking in long grass, keeping your hands and feet out of areas you cannot see and being cautious and alert when rock climbing.
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