How to identify and treat snake bites
Snake bites Snake bites can be a real threat to people. Of the hundreds of species of snakes in the USA only a low percentage are actually venomous. However, given the shock, distress and panic that most of us would feel on unexpectedly encountering a snake, it is highly unlikely that we would be able to easily identify whether the snake we were facing was venomous or not. Types of venomous snake bites The danger from snake bites and the toxicity of venom that a snake injects in to its victim varies from species to species. The recommended first aid for snake bites will also vary according to species and this underlines the importance of being able to place venomous snakes in to groups according to the properties of their venom. Treatment The required treatment for a snake bite is defined according to whether the venom is cytotoxic, haemotoxic or neurotoxic and the wrong treatment will not only be of little or no help but could even be dangerous. Cytotoxic - An agent or process t...