Dry Bite
A dry bite occurs when a snake strikes but does not inject venom. It may cause pain, redness, or swelling. However, because it is impossible to know immediately whether venom was delivered, all bites must be treated as potentially dangerous.
Venomous Bite
In a venomous bite, poison is injected into the wound. Symptoms may include swelling, nausea, blurred vision, breathing difficulty, irregular heartbeat, collapse, abdominal pain, bleeding, or paralysis. Some bites are surprisingly painless and may show only minor marks.
What To Do (And Not Do) After a Snakebite
1. Seek medical help immediately.
Venom can cause severe harm within hours. Call emergency services right away.
2. Keep the person still.
Do NOT allow walking or limb movement. Use a splint and keep the limb immobilized. Bring transport to the person if possible.
3. Do NOT cut the wound or apply a tight tourniquet.
Cutting the bite is ineffective and dangerous. High tourniquets can cause serious complications.