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What to do if you get a snake bite

Remember to stay alert and immediately call for help if bitten by a snake
Watch out for snakes sign

As the temperatures rise, more and more snakes are slithering out from their burrows, which puts everyone enjoying the summer weather at risk of being bitten. A Texas A&M College of Nursing professor gives some helpful advice on what to do in the unfortunate case that you or your loved one is bitten by a venomous snake (often called a poisonous snake).

“Unless you’re positive of what kind of snake it is or isn’t, don’t mess with it,” said Martin Mufich, MSN, RN clinical assistant professor at the College of Nursing. “An example of this would be a coral snake, where certain colors have to match. If you get bitten by a snake, it’s better to err on the side of caution.”

After being bitten by a snake, remove yourself from the area to avoid getting bitten a second time and call 9-1-1 as quickly as possible.

“If you are bitten by a snake, use precautions as if you got punctured or cut by anything,” Mufich said. “Flush that area with water and soap and put a clean bandage on it, without delaying transport to a medical facility.”

For Vital Record, this is Mary Leigh Meyer.

Media contact: media@tamu.edu

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