Sometimes, these snakes have very faint crossbands on their bodies. Young cottonmouth snakes have very distinctive orange and yellow crossband patterns. Cottonmouth snakes are mainly present in southeastern states, such as Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi. They spend most of their lives in or around water.
These snakes do not scare easily, and they can attack underwater. Although these snakes are more aggressive than other species, they only strike when they feel threatened and will flee if they have the chance. Their venom is incredibly toxic because it breaks down blood cells and prevents blood from clotting.
Bites from a cottonmouth can cause:. Coral snakes belong to the Elapidae family. They have alternating black, yellow, and red bands along their bodies. People often confuse the coral snake with the nonvenomous king snake, but their patterns consist of different arrangements of colored bands.
The coral snake has red bands with yellow rings surrounding them, while the king snake has black rings surrounding red bands. Coral snakes typically live in southern states, such as Texas and the Carolinas. They prefer wooded and marshy habitats. Coral snakes have neurotoxic venom, which affects nerve tissue and disrupts the communication pathways between the brain and other parts of the body. Copperhead snakes are fairly large, heavy-bodied snakes, which range in length from around 24 to 40 inches.
They have triangular heads and vertical pupils. Their bodies are tan or brown with darker hourglass-shaped bands along them. Copperhead snakes mainly live in central and eastern states, but they are absent from most of Florida and south-central Georgia. These snakes prefer forested areas and often make their home in rocky areas. Some live in marshy areas near rivers.
Copperhead snakes are not aggressive. People should get medical attention for all snake bites. On receiving a bite, a person can use first aid to improve their condition. If someone gets a snake bite, they should take the following steps while awaiting medical attention:. If a doctor suspects that someone has received a bite from a venomous snake, they will give them antivenom medication.
It helps if the person knows which species of snake bit them, as different snake bites require different types of antivenom. There are many misconceptions about first aid for snake bites. The following list describes what to avoid doing after a snake bite:. People who receive bites from venomous snakes should call and move to the nearest medical facility immediately. A healthcare professional will perform a physical examination and use diagnostic tests to determine the best course of treatment.
Where possible, a doctor will give the person a specific antivenom. The antivenom will depend on the type of snake responsible for the bite. If the bite comes from a nonvenomous snake, a person should still seek medical attention to receive proper wound care and prevent infection. In most cases, snake bites are preventable.
Snakes are not aggressive toward humans unless they feel threatened, and they will attempt to flee before biting a human. Snake bites are rarely fatal as long as people receive proper medical attention. Most snake bites cause localized pain and swelling. The symptoms of snake bites vary depending on the species of snake and whether or not their bite contained venom. Very few snakes are aggressive, and most snakes will avoid humans. They like open areas where they can rest in the sun such as rocks, and logs.
The water moccasin is another type of pit viper. This snake is also known as a cottonmouth, because the inside of its mouth is lined with a white, cottony material. Adults have dark tan to black skin with faint dark brown or black crossbands. Young snakes have brown or orange crossbands with a yellow tail. These snakes are found in the southeastern states, usually in or near water.
Copperheads are reddish or gold in color with hourglass-shaped bands. This snake is typically 18 to 36 inches in length. Copperheads are mostly found in forests, swamps, rocky areas, and rivers in the eastern states as far as Texas. They are not aggressive. Most copperhead bites occur if you accidentally step on or near one. Coral snakes have black, yellow, and red banding and are often confused with non-venomous king snakes.
You can distinguish a coral snake by the fact that the red bands touch the yellow bands. They live in the woods, marshes, and sandy areas of the South. Coral snakes typically hide underground and in leaf piles. However, there are some tips that you should also keep in mind:. There are also several outdated first aid techniques that are now believed to be unhelpful or even harmful:. The most important thing to do for a snake bite is to get emergency medical help as soon as possible.
A doctor will evaluate the victim to decide on a specific course of treatment. In some cases, a bite from a venomous snake is not life-threatening. The severity depends on the location of the bite and the age and health of the victim. If the bite is not serious, the doctor may simply clean the wound and give the victim a tetanus vaccine. If the situation is life threatening, the doctor may administer antivenom. This is a substance created with snake venom to counter the snake bite symptoms.
The sooner the antivenom is used, the more effective it will be. The outlook for a person with a snake bite is highly variable. For a non-venomous snake bite, the outlook is excellent if the wound is cleaned and treated promptly. For a venomous bite, the outlook is good if the victim receives emergency care very soon after the bite has occurred.
Healthy adults with shallow bites have a better outlook than children and those with weakened immune systems who have received deep bites. Sam Torbati , co-chair of Emergency Medicine. If the bite is from a venomous snake, you may be given antivenom medication, which can slow down or stop the effects of toxins in the body.
Antivenom medication varies for different snakes, says Dr. Torbati, and should be given as soon as possible. Whether the snake is venomous or not, the area around the wound is likely to be itchy, painful and swollen.
Venomous bites may also lead to nausea, vomiting, numbness, weakness, paralysis, and difficulty breathing. Skip to content. Rattlesnakes are common in Southern California. Hikers, campers, and gardeners be warned—it's snake season! If you are bitten by a snake, call or go to the ER immediately, even if you don't think the snake is venomous.
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