Re: First Aid question - snakebite
Byron Hynes (bph@INTERNORTH.COM)
Fri, 13 Dec 1996 00:08:49 -0700
Well, assuming that medical aid is close at hand:
1. Scence Survey
2. Primary survey (ABCs) and 1st aid for life-threatening conditions
3. place the casualty at rest in a semisetting position
4. calm and reassure the casualty
5. steady and support the affected limb, and _keep it below heart level_
6. flush the bite area with soapy water
7. apply a constricting band to slow the spread of poison
8. immobilize the limb and trasport the casualty to medical help
immediately
9. monitor breathing closely
- First Aid, First on the Scene: Standard level activity book, p. 20-13.
St. John Ambulance, Revision 1.2, 1996 printing
Page 8-10 of First on the Scene: The complete guide to first aid and CPR
specifically cautions "do not... try to suck the poison out with your
mouth"
Even the St. John Ambulance "Official Wilderness First-Aid Guide" says:
... do not try to suck out venom... all of these have been considered
correct treatment at some time, but have been found to be dagerous in some
way. In most cases, the casualty will recover, with some loss of tissue,
and scarring at the bite.
However, I should also note that because of our climate the rattler is the
only poisonous snake in Canada.
St. John Ambulance is Canada's oldest first-aid agency, and is Scouts
Canada's acknowledged authority on first aid.
-- Byron Hynes
SJA Instructor and I.T.
Chuck wrote:
> Tonioght at RT, one of the felloows gave a presentation on camping
> first aid. One of the items he showed was a "power" suction cup for
> snakebite. It is a tube with a plunger to pull, rather than push,
> to suck the poisen. I mentioned that _I_ had been under the
> impression that sucking was no longer approved for snakebite.
>
> Any of the EMT type first aid experts have a read on that?
----------------------------------------------------------------
Byron Hynes bph@internorth.com
71 Gold City Court bph@ntnet.nt.ca
Yellowknife, NWT
Canada X1A 3P6 http://www2.internorth.com/~bph
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
