Figure 5-4.Corals, cobras, kraits, and mambas.

Hospital Corpsman Revised Edition - Complete Navy Nursing manual for hospital training purposes
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nonpoisonous snakes have similar coloring, but in the North American coral snake, the red band always touches the yellow band, and the bands go all the way around the body. (In some of the nonvenomous, similarly colored varieties, the bands are only on the back and sides, not the belly.) There is an old saying that only applies to NORTH American coral snakes: “Red on yellow, kill a fellow; red on black, venom lack.” The coral snake has short, hollow fangs that chew into its victim and introduce the poison. Coral snake venom is dangerous, so if the skin is broken, give antivenom before envenomation is evidenced by symptoms or findings. Venom, which is stored in sacs in the snake’s head, is introduced into a victim through hollow or grooved fangs. An important point to remember, however, is that a bitten patient has not necessarily received a dose of venom. The snake can control whether or not it will release the poison and how much it will inject. As a result, while symptoms in a poisonous snakebite incident may be severe, they may also be mild or not develop at all. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF SNAKE- BITE.— In a snakebite situation, every reasonable effort should be made to positively identify the culprit, since treatment of a nonpoisonous bite is far simpler and less dangerous to the victim than treatment of a poisonous bite. However, unless the snake can be P O S I T I V E LY i d e n t i f i e d a s n o n p o i s o n o u s , C O N S I D E R A L L S N A K E B I T E S A S POISONOUS! SEEK CONSULTATION FROM EXPERT SOURCE. Signs and symptoms of venomous snakebite may include a visible bite on the skin (possibly no more than a local discoloration); pain and swelling in the bite area (may develop slowly, from 30 minutes to several hours); continued bleeding from site of bite (often seen with viper bites); rapid pulse; labored breathing; progressive weakness; dim or blurred vision; nausea and vomiting; seizures; or drowsiness (or loss of consciousness). Usually enough symptoms present themselves within an hour of a poisonous snakebite to erase any doubt as to the victim’s having been envenomated or 5-12 CORAL SNAKE COBRA- ASIA, AFRICA KRAIT- INDIA, S. E. ASIA MAMBA- AFRICA HM3f0504 Figure 5-4.—Corals, cobras, kraits, and mambas.

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