Snake Bites

When and where to get medical help

Most snake bites in the UK are not serious, but if you're bitten by a snake you must get medical help.

Call 999 or go to A&E immediately if:

you think you, or someone else, has been bitten by a snake

Find your nearest A&E

Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.

Bring any medicines you take with you.

What to do while you're waiting for help

If you've been bitten by a snake, there are things you can do while you're waiting for medical help.

Do

stay calm - most snake bites in the UK are not serious and can be treated
keep the part of your body that was bitten as still as you can
lie in the recovery position if you can
take paracetamol for any pain
try to remember the colour and pattern of the snake to tell the doctor or take a photo of it, from a distance and if safe to do so
take off any jewellery and loosen clothes near the bite, in case the skin swells

Don't

do not go near the snake, or try to catch or kill it
do not try to suck or cut the venom (toxin) out of the bite
do not tie anything tightly round the part of the body where the bite is
do not take aspirin or ibuprofen, as they can make bleeding worse

If you're not in the UK when you are bitten by a snake, contact the emergency medical services in the country you're in.

What happens at the hospital

You'll usually need to stay in hospital for at least 24 hours if you've been bitten by a snake.

The bite will be cleaned and bandaged. You may be given an injection to help protect you from tetanus.

If you were bitten by a venomous snake (a snake that releases a harmful toxin through its bite) you'll be treated with a medicine to fight the venom (toxin). This is given through a thin tube into a vein, called a drip.

Types of UK snake

Only 3 types of snake are found in the wild in the UK.

The adder is the only venomous snake, but you should get all snake bites checked as soon as possible.

Telling the doctors the colour and pattern of the snake that bit you, or taking a photo of the snake to show the doctors, could help them treat you.

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