After a snakebite, keep still, remove rings and watches and reach a hospital with antivenom; do not cut, suck or tightly bind the wound
Sit still, immobilize the bitten limb and remove rings/watches before swelling develops. Seek a hospital with suitable antivenom, the treatment able to reverse most venom effects. Do not cut, suck, ice or tightly constrict the limb. Do not drink alcohol or run. Photograph the snake from a safe distance if possible; do not catch it.
What it takes
The immediate actions cost nothing. Identify a nearby hospital stocking antivenom in advance. Resist attempting improvised wound treatment.
What you may gain
WHO recommends immediate complete immobilization of the bitten body part and rapid transport to medical care, avoiding tourniquets and cutting, and treatment with appropriate antivenom for local snakes. High-quality antivenom is the most effective treatment for preventing or reversing most toxic effects. Snakebite causes an estimated 81,000–138,000 annual deaths worldwide, with amputations and permanent disabilities about three times as numerous.
Context & considerations
Photograph only if safe; never catch the snake. Avoid alcohol, running, suction, ice and constriction that turns the limb purple. The original Chinese health-authority/CDC snakebite consensus was not found; China's annual death figure remains pending verification.
Research & references
WHO. Animal bites fact sheet. https://www.who.int/zh/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/animal-bites; WHO (2023). Snakebite envenoming fact sheet. https://www.who.int/zh/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/snakebite-envenoming