b. Coral Snake. Coral snakes have a neurotoxic venom which attacks the
casualty's nervous system. The site of the bite is not swollen, but the casualty may
experience the following.
(1)
Severe headache.
(2)
Dizziness.
(3)
Blurred vision.
(4)
Hearing difficulty.
(5)
Fever and/or chills.
(6)
Nausea or vomiting.
(7)
Difficulty in breathing.
1-4.
TREAT A POISONOUS SNAKEBITE
If you are not sure if the snakebite was made by a poisonous or nonpoisonous
snake, assume the snake was poisonous. Emergency measures consist of slowing
down the spread of the venom and evacuating the casualty to a medical treatment
facility where antivenin (serum used to neutralize the venom) and other medical
procedures can be administered.
a. Immobilize the Casualty and Perform Other Procedures.
(1)
Have the casualty lie down.
(2)
Keep the casualty as calm as possible. Do not administer any
sedatives.
(3)
Tell the casualty to keep as still as possible.
(4)
Explain to the casualty what you are doing.
(5) If the patient has been bitten on an extremity, keep the bitten part at or
below the heart level in order to slow down the spread of the poison to the heart.
Immobilize (splint) the extremity.
(6) Prevent a second bite or a second victim. Snakes can continue to bite
and inject venom with successive bites until they run out of venom.
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