Kenya is home to many snake species. Most are harmless, but a few can cause serious injury or death, including puff adders, cobras (including spitting cobras) and mambas. Bites happen most often on farms, in rural areas, on hikes and safaris, and at night or after rain, but they can occur in gardens and estates too.
The most important thing to know is this: treat every snake bite as a medical emergency. The only specific treatment for venom is antivenom, which is given in a hospital. Your job is to slow things down and get the person there fast.
What to do
- Move away from the snake. Do not try to catch, kill or handle it. If you can take a photo from a safe distance without any delay, it may help doctors, but it is not necessary.
- Call for help immediately. Call 999 or Pulse Medical Response on +254 726 700 682, and start heading to the nearest hospital. Do not wait to see whether symptoms develop.
- Keep the person calm and still. Panic and movement speed up the spread of venom. If they must be moved, carry them or use a stretcher rather than letting them walk.
- Remove rings, watches, bracelets and tight clothing or shoes from the bitten limb before swelling starts.
- Immobilise the limb. Use a loose splint or sling, as you would for a broken bone, and keep the limb roughly level with the heart.
- Cover the bite loosely with a clean, dry cloth. Do not scrub or flush the wound.
- Note the time of the bite and watch the symptoms. If swelling spreads, mark its edge on the skin with a pen and write the time next to it. Doctors find this very useful.
- Protect the airway. If the person is vomiting or drowsy, lay them on their left side. If they stop breathing, start CPR and keep going until help arrives.
- If venom sprays into the eyes (spitting cobras), rinse the eyes with plenty of clean water for at least 10 to 15 minutes, then get medical care.
What not to do
- Do not cut the wound or try to suck out the venom. It does not work and increases the risk of infection and bleeding.
- Do not tie a tourniquet or a tight bandage. This can cut off blood flow and cause serious tissue damage. Leave any pressure bandaging to trained responders.
- Do not apply ice, heat, herbs, black stones or other traditional remedies. They do not neutralise venom, and the delay can be dangerous.
- Do not give alcohol, coffee or other stimulants. Avoid aspirin and ibuprofen too, as they can worsen bleeding.
- Do not let the person walk or run to get help.
- Do not handle the snake, even if it looks dead. A dead snake can still bite by reflex. A photo is enough.
- Do not wait for symptoms. Some venoms take hours to show their effects, and a person who looks fine at first can deteriorate quickly.
Warning signs to watch for
Get urgent help if you notice any of these, though they may not appear straight away:
- Severe pain, swelling, bruising or blistering around the bite
- Bleeding from the bite site, gums or nose
- Drooping eyelids, blurred vision or difficulty speaking or swallowing
- Difficulty breathing
- Nausea, vomiting, dizziness or faintness
- Confusion or drowsiness
What happens at the hospital
Doctors will assess the bite, monitor the patient, run tests where needed and give antivenom if it is required. Tell them the time of the bite, what the snake looked like if you saw it, and how symptoms have changed since. Patients are often observed for several hours even if they seem well.
Reducing your risk
- Wear closed shoes or boots and long trousers when walking in grass, bush or farmland.
- Use a torch at night and watch where you step.
- Never put hands into holes, logs, rock crevices or piles of debris.
- Keep compounds clear of tall grass, rubble and woodpiles, which attract rodents and snakes.
- Sleep on a bed rather than on the floor in snake-prone areas.
When you need help, call Pulse
Pulse Medical Response Services provides 24-hour emergency medical response and ambulance services in Nairobi and across Kenya, with trained EMTs, nurses and paramedics. If someone has been bitten, call us on +254 726 700 682 or message us on WhatsApp, and our team will guide you while we get to you.