What to do if bitten by a venomous snake
Stay calm, keep the limb below heart level, remember the snake's features — never cut the wound or suck out the venom
01 What to do now
- 01
Stay calm and minimize movement — moving speeds up venom spreading through your lymphatic system
- 02
Try to remember the snake's appearance, but don't waste time trying to photograph or catch it — that risks a second bite
- 03
About 5–10cm above the bite (toward the heart), wrap it with an elastic bandage or stocking — snug enough that you can just fit one finger underneath
- 04
Remove rings, bracelets, and watches near the wound before it swells — they'll be hard to take off afterward
- 05
Keep the affected limb below heart level and get to a hospital as fast as possible
02 Common myths
Sucking out the venom with your mouth: the venom is also absorbed by your mouth's mucous membranes, has no proven benefit, and only delays getting to a hospital
Cutting the wound to bleed it out: increases infection risk without speeding up detoxification
Icing the wound: can cause blood vessels to constrict and local tissue damage — the opposite of how you'd treat a hornet sting
Drinking alcohol for the pain: alcohol speeds up your heart rate, which speeds up venom spread