Snake bite first aid has one clear aim: slow the spread of venom and get the person to a hospital that holds antivenom as fast as possible. Snakebite is a major cause of death and disability in rural South Asia, Africa and Australia, yet most people who reach medical care promptly survive. Because it is hard for anyone to tell a venomous bite from a harmless one, the safe approach is to treat every bite as dangerous until a doctor decides otherwise. If a child says they were bitten, believe them, because the marks can be tiny.
Snake Bite First Aid: 8 Steps
- Move away from the snake. Do not try to catch, kill or handle it. If you can safely take a photo from a distance, it helps doctors choose the antivenom.
- Call the emergency number and arrange urgent transport to a hospital with antivenom. Do not wait for symptoms.
- Keep the person calm and still. Movement and a racing pulse speed up the spread of venom. Reassure them and have them lie down.
- Do not wash the bite. Venom left on the skin can help identify the snake.
- Remove rings, watches and tight items from the bitten limb before swelling begins.
- Immobilise the limb with a splint or sling, keeping it at about heart level and as still as possible. Do not let the person walk. Carry them or bring transport to them.
- Apply a pressure bandage if the snake is neurotoxic. See the next section.
- Note the time of the bite and monitor breathing, pulse and alertness, as in vital signs observations.
Snake Bite First Aid and Pressure Immobilisation
Pressure immobilisation means applying a firm, broad elastic or crepe bandage over the bite and then up the whole limb, starting from the fingers or toes, then splinting the limb. It is recommended where bites are from snakes whose venom acts on the nerves and causes paralysis, such as cobras, kraits and Australian elapids, and when there will be a delay in reaching hospital. The bandage should be firm like one used for a sprain, but not so tight that it cuts off circulation. Mark the bite site on the bandage, and do not remove it until the person is in hospital.
Pressure immobilisation is not advised for bites from vipers, such as saw-scaled vipers, Russell’s viper and pit vipers, whose venom causes local swelling and tissue damage, because pressure can worsen local injury. Here, immobilise the limb and go straight to hospital. If you are unsure which snake it was, follow the protocol of your local health authority.
Snake Bite First Aid: What Never to Do
- Do not cut the wound or suck out venom. It does not work and can cause infection.
- Do not apply a tourniquet or tie a tight band.
- Do not apply ice, heat, herbs, chilli, mud or electric shocks.
- Do not give alcohol, coffee or traditional remedies.
- Do not delay hospital care to visit a traditional healer.
- Do not walk the person or let them run.
Warning Signs of Envenomation
- Drooping eyelids, double or blurred vision, difficulty speaking or swallowing
- Muscle weakness or paralysis and breathing difficulty (neurotoxic venom)
- Severe pain, swelling that spreads, blistering and bleeding from the bite or gums (viper venom)
- Headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and drowsiness
- Collapse, shock or cardiac arrest in severe bites
Snake Bite First Aid for an Unconscious Person
Follow the DRABC primary survey, place a breathing unresponsive person in the recovery position and assist breathing with expired air resuscitation if it fails. Paralysis from some snake venoms stops breathing while the heart keeps beating, so continued rescue breathing can keep the person alive until antivenom is available.
Snake Bite First Aid Planning at Work and at Home
Wear boots and long trousers in grass, use a torch at night, do not put hands into holes or under rocks, keep surroundings clear of rubbish and wood piles, and sleep under a net in snake-prone areas. Workplaces such as farms, construction sites and pipelines should have a snake bite plan, know the nearest antivenom hospital and train staff in snake bite first aid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I suck out the venom?
No. Suction does not remove venom and can cause harm.
Should I tie a tight band above the bite?
No. Tourniquets can damage the limb. Use immobilisation and, for neurotoxic snakes, a pressure bandage.
How soon do I need antivenom?
As soon as possible. Go to a hospital that holds antivenom without waiting for symptoms.
References and Further Reading
- World Health Organization, Snakebite envenoming fact sheet
- American Heart Association and American Red Cross, Guidelines for First Aid
Last updated: November 2026
Prepared by: EHS Guidelines Editorial Team
This article is general educational information and is not a substitute for accredited first aid training or professional medical care. In an emergency, call your local emergency number immediately. Emergency numbers, medicines and protocols differ between countries, so follow local guidance.
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