No one anticipates being bitten by a snake. But accidents do happen. And with a
snakebite, remaining calm is essential, says a University of
Georgia wildlife expert.

"If you’re bitten by a nonvenomous snake, you can
either just do nothing or wash the bitten area with soap and water," said Jeff Jackson, an Extension
Service wildlife specialist and a professor in the D.B.
Warnell School of Forestry at UGA.

Jackson said sometimes a venomous snakebite can be harmless, too, if the snake didn’t
inject venom.

"Don’t take a chance, though," he said. "If a venomous snake bites you,
make reasonable haste to the nearest hospital."

Stay calm, he said, and immobilize the bitten area. "Never cut into the
bite," he said, "unless you’re a true expert."

Farm workers, children playing outdoors and snake handlers are the most frequent
snakebite victims.

Jackson said bites of pit vipers cause intense pain. "They hurt worse than a bee
sting," he said. "Coral snakes are an exception. They don’t hurt much."

The good news for snakebite victims is that nearly everybody recovers. The U.S.
snakebite fatality rate is less than 1 percent. This includes people who refuse treatment.

"In short, very few people die of snakebite," Jackson said. "You are 20
times more likely to be killed by lightning than by a snake."