Snake bites

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

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

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.

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

• 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

• 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.

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.

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.

Adders are grey or reddish-brown, with a dark zig-zag shaped stripe down their back.

Grass snakes are usually green, with dark spots down their sides, and yellow and black bands around their neck.

Smooth snakes are usually grey or brown with a dark pattern. The patterns down their backs are lighter and less zig-zag shaped than on adders.

Any snake can bite. In the UK, there are 3 types of wild snake, but the adder is the only one that is venomous.

If you've been bitten by a snake, stay calm while you wait for help. Keep the part of your body that was bitten still, and take paracetamol for pain.

Your snake bite will be cleaned and bandaged in hospital. You may be given a medicine to treat venom if you were bitten by a venomous snake.