Tight cloth, cuts, herbs worsen snakebite injuries, say experts after KGMU study find 70%-80% cases get faulty first-aid

Lucknow: A study by researchers at King George’s Medical University (KGMU) found that 70%-80% of snakebite cases from rural Lucknow and nearby areas used wrong first-aid methods before reaching hospital.

The study, published in the Journal of Indian Society of Toxicology in May, revealed that in most cases, people tied cloth tightly, cut the wound or used herbs on snakebites that adversely affected the injury.

Researchers studied 51 snakebite patients aged 20-40 years brought to the university in 2022 for treatment. Doctors found that 33 patients tied cloth tightly around the bitten body part, 12 had cuts made on it and 15 used traditional home remedies.

Prof Shiuli Rathore said people believe such methods stop snake venom from spreading, but the fact is that tying the affected area reduces blood supply to it, which may cause permanent damage. In case a cut is made on the bite, it creates a wound, worsening the situation, she added.

Prof D Himanshu from the medicine department said spreading awareness about first aid, quick treatment and timely anti-snake venom can save lives.

Correct way of providing first aid is to keep the patient calm and still and put the bitten limb/part still and below heart level, remove rings, bangles, shoes or tight clothes before swelling starts and take the patient to the nearest hospital immediately for anti-snake venom treatment. Do not apply herbs, mud, chemicals or ice or delay treatment by visiting traditional healers first, said doctors.