Snake awareness – one minute survival tip

Snake Awareness. Educate yourself about the types of snakes found in your area. This way you will know what to look for, which types of snakes are dangerous, and what you can do if you come in contact with one.

Snake Safety Tips. If you see a snake while hiking, do not panic! Back away slowly and look for a way around. Snakes will generally leave you alone if they are not provoked. Never get close to a snake to get a better look.

Tip 1 – Leave snakes alone. Almost all cases of snake bite, a reported 99%, occur when people attempt to catch, pick up, or kill snakes.

Tip 2 – Use specialty snake handling tools when picking up or transporting any venomous snakes, or any snake that you can’t identify, or which is aggressive.

Tip 3 – Wear snake boots and/or snake gaitors on your feet and legs when walking through snake country.

Tip 4 – Wear gloves. If you know it’s a non-venomous snake, you should still wear gloves to protect you against bites when handling or holding snakes. Although many snakes can’t envenomate, they can still cause injury, bacterial infection, and a lot of bleeding, due to the anticoagulant in snake saliva.

Tip 5 – If you are up against a Spitting Cobra in your suburban backyard lawn, which happens all the time here in the USA, wear glasses, as these snakes tend to aim for the eyes.

Tip 6 – Learn your snake species, particularly in your area!

Tip 7 – Don’t kill snakes. Don’t shoot them, don’t hit them with a stick. Just leave them alone, they move on, you’re safe.

What should someone do if bitten by a snake?
If you know the snake is venomous, remove any constricting jewelry, watches, clothing, etc. Keep the bite victim calm, and the injured limb still as you would a strain or break. Clean bite area thoroughly, if time to the hospital is not delayed
Call 911 and seek medical attention from a physician or hospital experienced with treating snakebites. Do not apply ice; do not use a tourniquet, and never cut on the fang marks.
If you do not know what kind of snake caused the bite, treat it as you would a venomous bite and do not waste time trying to catch or kill it.