First Aid -Snake bite and Dog bite

Snake bite

Snake bite results in punctured wounds caused by the fangs of a snake. The wounds by themselves are minor ones, you should always treat the bite as poisonous.

Signs and symptoms

1.The patient may tell you that a snake has bitten him.

2.The two wounds produced by the snake' s fangs are visible.

3.The patient may show signs of poisoning. 4.The patient may show signs of shock.  

Treatment

1.Tie a piece of cloth tightly above the bite to prevent the blood from returning to the heart.

2.With a clean razor blade, make four to six cuts 1 cm deep over the area of the bite.

3.Squeeze the part hard so that blood flows out of the cuts.

4.Apply potassium permanganate crystals in the cuts.

5.Apply a piece of clean gauze or clothe on the cuts.

6.Rush the patient to the nearest hospital and inform the medical aid.

Dog Bite

In India where rabies is prevalent, if a person by a bitten by a stray Dog the injury should be taken seriously.

Wounds from dog bite are infected because dirt and germs are introduced into the wound from the teeth of the dog.

Signs and Symptoms                                            

1.There is a history of dog bite

2.There may be one or more irregular wounds.

Treatment                                            

1.Clean the wound with soap and water.

2.Swab thewound with antiseptic lotion

3.Apply mercurochrome to the wound.