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First
Aid For Snake Bites
If a snake bites your child, for
goodness' sake, don't get inspired by Hindi movies and start sucking venom
from the wound! There's a lot else you can do to prevent the poison
from spreading and reaching the
heart.
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Try and get a good look at the snake.
This would help the doctor identify it, and treat the bite accordingly.
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Get your child away from the snake and
try to calm her down.
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Make her lie down on a bed or mattress.
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She should move as little as possible.
The more she moves, the quicker the venom will spread through the body.
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It is important to remember that most
snakes are not poisonous, and it is likely that your child has been bitten
by a non-poisonous snake. However, if fang marks are visible, the
snake was probably of the poisonous variety.
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Keep the bitten limb below the level
of the heart. This slows down the spread of the poison to the heart. So
if your child has been bitten on the leg, she could lie down with her leg
on a lower level than the mattress, perhaps on a stool.
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Some advise that you should wash the
bite with soap and water, and then apply an antiseptic, while others advise
that it is better not to wash the bite. The doctor will be able to treat
your child much better if he has traces of the venom. It is a good idea
to wipe the area clean with an antiseptic and retain the wipe for venom
traces.
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Don't apply ice to the bite.
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Tie a band or cloth about two inches
away from the wound. If there has been swelling, tie the band about two
inches from the swelling.
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The band should be at least an inch
thick, and it should be tied within 20 minutes of the bite, if it is to
have any effect.
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The band should be firm and tight, but
not so tight that it completely blocks blood flow. A good rule of thumb
is that the bandage should be loose enough for a finger to slip through.
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Keep bandaging as much of the area as
possible, depending on the amount of bandage you have. You could even bandage
around the torso to prevent any poison which may have already started to
move towards the heart.
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As far as possible, DO NOT LET YOUR
CHILD WALK. Remember, the limb should be moved as little as possible.
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Get your child to a hospital as soon
as possible.
The most important points to remember
in a snake bite is to immobilise the limb and keep it below the level of
the heart before getting the child to a hospital.
If your child has been bitten by
any other animal like a dog or spider, the first aid is relatively the
same in either case. Wash the wound with soap and water and apply an antiseptic.
Always contact a doctor, whether
the bite is big or small, if swelling
occurs, the wound gets worse or if your child develops fever. If your child
gets bitten by a tick, don't squeeze the
tick while removing it, as this
causes the tick to secrete further bacteria.
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