Chapter 17

1. Chapter 17 Animal Bites, Human Bites, and Snake Bites

2. Lesson Objectives • Identify the various sources of animal bites and know how to treat injuries inflicted by animals, as well as when to consider the risk of rabies. • Know how to manage bites from humans. • Identify poisonous and nonpoisonous snakes in the United States and describe the management of snake bites.

3. Animal Bites (1 of 7) • Wild Animals • Bears, bison, moose, cougars, alligators. • Injuries include puncture wounds, bites, lacerations, bruises, rupture of internal organs, and evisceration.

4. Animal Bites (2 of 7) • Domestic animals • Most animal bites are inflicted by dogs and cats. • Cat bites frequently become infected.

5. Animal Bites (3 of 7) • What to do • If not bleeding heavily, irrigate with water for 5 to 10 minutes. • Remove foreign material. • Control bleeding with pressure. • If rabies is possible, wash with soap and water, benzalkonium chloride, or povidone-iodine.

6. Animal Bites (4 of 7) • What to do • After attack by a large animal, examine the victim for internal injuries. • Cover wounds with a sterile dressing. • Evacuate.

7. Animal Bites (5 of 7) • Rabies • A fatal viral infection of the brain. • Only affects warm-blooded animals. • Animals most commonly infected include skunks, raccoons, and bats.

8. Animal Bites (6 of 7) • Rabies • Consider rabies in the following situations: • In an area or country where rabies is endemic • If a bite by a dog, cat, skunk, raccoon, or fox is unprovoked and the skin is broken • If the victim was bitten by a bat • If the victim was bitten by a large carnivore • If an already open wound is licked by a potentially rabid animal

9. Animal Bites (7 of 7) • Rabies • What to do • Wash the bite vigorously with soap and water or irrigate with benzalkonium chloride. • Brain of infected animal must be examined. It may be necessary to capture or kill the animal.

10. Human Bites • What to do • Wash with soap and water for 5 to 10 minutes. • Control bleeding with pressure. • Cover the wound with a sterile dressing. • Seek medical care and tetanus immunizations, if necessary.

11. Snake Bites (1 of 8) • Pit viper • Coral snake © AbleStock Courtesy of Luther C. Goldman/U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

12. Snake Bites (2 of 8) • Pit viper snake bites • What to look for • Severe burning pain at bite site • Two small puncture wounds • Swelling • Discoloration and blood-filled blisters • In severe cases: nausea, vomiting, sweating, weakness, bleeding, coma, and death.

13. Snake Bites (3 of 8) • Pit viper snake bites • What to do • Get the victim away from the snake. • Do not attempt oral suction or incising the skin. • Keep the victim quiet. • Evacuate immediately.

14. Snake Bites (4 of 8) • Pit viper snake bites • What to do • Antivenin should be given within 4 to 6 hours. • Immobilize affected limb. • If there is no immediate reaction, start to walk slowly with the victim to the trailhead.

15. Snake Bites (5 of 8) • Coral snake bite • What to look for • Respiratory depression. • Double vision. • Difficulty swallowing. • Several hours can pass before onset of symptoms. Absence of immediate symptoms does not mean it is a harmless bite.

16. Snake Bites (6 of 8) • Coral snake bite • What to do • Keep victim calm. • Clean the bite with soap and water. • Wrap a bitten limb with an elastic bandage. • Evacuate the victim to a hospital for antivenin.

17. Snake Bites (7 of 8) • Nonpoisonous snake bite • What to look for • Horseshoe-shaped tooth marks • Some swelling and tenderness • No evidence of significant envenomation

18. Snake Bites (8 of 8) • Nonpoisonous snake bite • What to do • Clean bite with soap and water. • Care for the bite as a minor wound. • A tetanus booster may be needed.