First Aid for Adder Bites

By Bill, posted

The Adder is the only venomous snake living within Britain. Luckily there have only been 14 deaths recorded in the last 100 years, with the last death occurring in Perthshire, Scotland in 1975. Adder’s are notoriously shy and will avoid human contact whenever possible.

Adder bites can be dangerous in a small number of cases, potentially leading to anaphylactic reactions and respiratory disorders. It’s always useful to know what to do in the event of being bitten by a snake in the wild…

Symptoms

The majority of bites occur in grasslands and in coastal areas. The adder loves cover such as long grass and hedgerows. Symptoms of a snake bit can vary but may include:

  • Pain, swelling and redness at the site of a bite
  • Feeling nauseous and vomiting
  • Dizziness
  • Breathing difficulties*

*Cases like the 1975 fatality could be due to an extreme allergic reaction to the adder’s venom. In these cases proceed to treatment as quick as possible.

Treatment

Adder bites are not often serious; therefore it is advisable to remain calm and not to panic. The venom is released through the bloodstream and movement such as panicking could increase is spread throughout the body.

Consider the following when bitten or helping someone else:

  • Check that breathing is normal and not restricted
  • Loosen tight clothing around the bite area
  • Remove jewellery and watches if swelling becomes a problem.

Most cases can be seen to locally by a medical professional if the casualty is breathing fine with only minor symptoms present.

Call 999/112 immediately if the casualty's breathing is inhibited. The recovery position should be used if the casualty becomes unconscious and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) administered if they stop breathing whilst awaiting the arrival of the emergency services.

The above is startling but remember exceptionally rare. Most people will have minor symptoms; however there remains a threat that certain individuals may experience life threatening allergic reactions to the venom.

Share this article on social media

Related Articles