What to Do If You Are Bitten by a Snake

NEWS RELEASE - July 31, 2026

What to Do If You're Bitten by a Snake

Hazard, KY - Although snakebites are scary, staying calm and knowing what to do are your best defense.

"In the ARH service area, we see a lot of people working outdoors, hiking, hunting and gardening, so encounters with snakes are not uncommon. The most important thing to remember after a snakebite is to stay calm, move away from the snake and get medical attention as quickly as possible," said Dr. Bart Francis, an emergency medicine physician and GME Internal Medicine Program Director for Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH).

While most snakes aren't venomous and would rather avoid you than bite you, snakebites do happen. If you're bitten, it's easy to panic, especially if you're not sure what kind of snake was involved.

What you do in the first few minutes after a snakebite can make a difference in how serious this scary situation turns out. Some first aid methods you may have heard can actually make the injury worse, while a few simple steps can help keep you safer until you receive medical care.

Dr. Francis advised, "Don't try old remedies like cutting the wound, sucking out venom or using a tourniquet. Those methods can cause more harm than good."

Here's what to do if you're bitten by a snake:

• Move away from the snake. Your first priority is to get to a safe place to avoid being bitten again. Don't try to catch, kill or handle the snake. Many people suffer a second bite while trying to identify it. If you can safely take a photo from a distance, it may help healthcare providers identify the snake. Otherwise, leave it alone.

• Stay calm and limit movement. It's natural to panic after a snakebite but try to stay as calm as possible. Increased movement can cause venom to spread more quickly. If the bite is on your arm or leg, keep it as still as you can and avoid unnecessary walking. If someone is with you, ask them to drive you to the emergency room. If you're alone and have severe symptoms such as trouble breathing, call 911.

• Remove tight items. Swelling often develops quickly after a snakebite so remove rings, watches, bracelets or tight clothing near the bite before swelling makes them difficult to remove. If possible, keep the bitten arm or leg below the level of your heart while you wait for medical care.

• Get medical care right away. Even if you aren't sure whether the snake was venomous, it's important to be evaluated by a medical professional. Some symptoms may not appear immediately and even bites that seem mild at first can become more serious over time. Go to the emergency room or call 911 if you have severe pain, rapidly increasing swelling, trouble breathing, dizziness, fainting, heavy bleeding or signs of an allergic reaction.

What Not to Do

You may have heard advice about treating snakebites at home, but many of these methods are outdated and can do more harm than good.

Do not:

• Cut the bite with a knife

• Try to suck out the venom

• Apply a tourniquet

• Put ice on the bite

• Drink alcohol or caffeine
• Try to treat the bite yourself instead of seeking medical care

The safest treatment is prompt evaluation by a healthcare professional.

What to Expect at the Hospital

Your healthcare team will examine the bite, monitor your symptoms and decide whether additional treatment is needed. Not every snakebite requires antivenom, but if it does, receiving it as soon as possible can help prevent serious complications.

You may also receive pain medication, wound care, blood tests or observation to make sure your condition remains stable.

Snakebites can be frightening, but staying calm and acting quickly can make a difference in the outcome.

Dr. Francis cautioned, "Even bites that seem minor should be evaluated in the emergency department because symptoms can worsen over time. Prompt medical care gives us the best chance to prevent serious complications and help patients recover safely."

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About Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH)
Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) traces its roots back to 1955, when the United Mine Workers of America opened the Miners Memorial Hospital system - a network of 10 hospitals dedicated to providing care throughout the coalfields of eastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia. Seventy years later, ARH has grown into a 14-hospital not-for-profit health system that serves more than 500,000 residents of central Appalachia each year. ARH hospitals in Barbourville, Harlan, Hazard, Hyden, Martin, McDowell, Middlesboro, Paintsville, Prestonsburg, West Liberty, Whitesburg, and South Williamson in Kentucky, and Beckley and Hinton in West Virginia, ensure that residents, tucked away in even the most remote areas, can access the highest quality of care without traveling hours from home. ARH's hospitals, clinics, multi-specialty physician practices, home health agencies, home medical equipment stores, retail pharmacies, and medical spas boast more than 6,700 employees with a network of more than 1,300 providers, making it the single largest employer in southeastern Kentucky and the third-largest private employer in southern West Virginia.