There are many types of venomous snakes around the world, and some are more dangerous than others. Luckily, in North America, we don't have to deal with as many venomous snakes as other places (looking at you, Australia); however, that's not to say that we don't have any venomous snakes at all. In the U.S., there are three main venomous snakes to worry about: rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouths, and different versions of these three can be found in pretty much every state except Maine, Hawaii, and Alaska. North America is also home to venomous coral snakes that live in the Southeast and Southwest. According to the CDC, about 7,000 to 8,000 people suffer venomous snake bites in the U.S. per year. Fortunately, only about five of those bites are fatal.
What to Do If You're Bitten by a Venomous Snake
If you're ever bitten by a venomous snake, it's important to act quickly and calmly. First of all, you might want to identify the snake. If you have a cell phone, take a photo. Don't grab it, obviously, because you risk getting bitten again. The best thing to do is stay calm and get some help. Taking a photo of the snake is crucial because having a picture can help medical professionals more quickly figure out what type of venom they need to treat and better care for your wound.
The Snake Was Probably Venomous, Now What?
So, you have your picture and figured out that the snake was likely venomous, but now what should you do? First of all, it is important not to panic. Even if the snake that bit you was venomous, there is a possibility that it was just a dry bite. A dry bite happens when a snake bites its target but chooses not to inject any venom. You’ll know whether you got a venomous bite or not in about 15 minutes because your body will start to tingle. And it's not a very fun experience, I can tell you that. If you realize venom was released, remember to never try to suck the venom out of a snakebite — that can make it worse. Your priority is getting medical treatment as soon as possible. This is important because the 15-minute rule isn't always 100% accurate and the time it takes for the effects of venom to truly set in can vary greatly depending on how much venom was injected by the snake and where it bit you. If you are deep into a hike and can't get to civilization quickly, call 911 for help if you have cell service.
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