First Aid if an Adult is Bitten by a Snake

Video Transcript

"Hi, I'm Ginger Black. I'm a professional snake handler with Expert Village. For demonstration purposes, we have a snake bite victim. Some of the first things you want to keep in mind are what not to do. Don't do that old trick your Grandpa talked about of cutting a hole or an "X" above the bite and sucking the venom out. You don't want the victim's blood or the snakes venom in your mouth. Another thing you don't want to do is make a tourniquet and tie it off. You'll cause more harm than good. What you do want to happen is the victim to stay calm. You want to keep them as calm as possible. Have them sit down or lie down in a comfortable position with the site of the bite below the heart. This will help keep the venom from moving to the heart too quickly. You want to pick up a cell phone if you have one available and call for professional help. Stay with your victim. Keep them conscious and calm through the whole thing. "