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Snakebite
Signs of snakebite are not always visible and symptoms may only start to appear an hour or more after the person has been bitten.
What to look for
- Puncture marks or scratches (usually on a limb)
- Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea
- Headache
- Double or blurred vision
- Drooping eyelids
- Breathing difficulty
- Drowsiness, giddiness or faintness
- Problems speaking or swallowing
- Pain or tightness in the chest or abdomen
- Respiratory weakness or arrest.
What to do
- Follow DRABC.
- Rest and calm the casualty.
- Apply pressure immobilisation bandages.
- Splint the bandaged limb.
- Ensure the casualty does not move.
- Call for medical assistance.
Do not
- wash venom off the skin as retained venom will assist in identification of the snake
- cut the bitten area
- try to suck venom out of the wound
- use a constrictive bandage
- try to catch the snake.
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