Snake Bites: How to Treat

The outdoors is exactly where children should be during the long days of summer. Running and playing in open fields and grass is what just about every child loves to do. But, those are also the same places where snakes inhabit, and if a child steps on or startles one, it might bite.

In the event you ever find yourself in a situation where a child has been bitten, Dr. Barry Gilmore, director of Emergency Services at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, tells exactly what you should do.

"Most importantly, parents should know that snakes are not usually aggressive and won't strike unless startled, stepped on or feel threatened. In most cases, children who are bitten have been playing outdoors, hiking or walking in fields or near water. The most common area bitten are the limbs.

The first thing you should do if a child is bitten is stay calm. Allow the bite area to bleed freely for about 15 to 20 seconds, and then thoroughly cleanse the bite with antibacterial soap and water. Applying Betadine (Povidone - Iodine), an antiseptic, is ideal, however not necessary if you don't have it on hand.

Keep the limb that has been bitten at or slightly below the heart. If it is elevated too high it could cause the poison to travel faster, and if it is too low it can cause swelling problems. Many times, parents put hot or cold packs on the area. This is not necessary and provides no benefit to the child or to the wound. There are some wives' tales that say to suck the poison out of the fang marks by mouth or cut an incision on the site so that the poison can drain. Do not do this. Also, using a tourniquet, applying pressure or wrapping the area with bandages offer no benefit either.

After the first three steps of allowing it bleed, cleaning and keeping it at or below the heart, the next most critical thing is to get to an emergency room. The smaller the child, the worse the reaction to the poison can be, so it is very important to seek medical attention. Usually, a life-threatening reaction doesn't immediately occur in most cases. I also encourage parents not to waste any time killing or catching the snake. It's more important to have the bite medically assessed.

Snake bites in our area are not uncommon. In summer months, we can see about one per week in the Emergency Department. The most common bites come from copperhead or water moccasin snakes. The only treatment is anti-venom, and this would be administered if the complications from the bite became life-threatening.

As we get into the full swing of summer, parents need to be mindful of snakes' presence. Around boat docks, sheds, in fields and wooded areas are all ideal places for snakes to be. The best advice is to teach your children the importance of being careful and watching for snakes while they play. They also need to understand that the best thing to do if they see one is simply back up and walk away."