5 steps to surviving a snakebite 

Following the death of Ifunanya, also known as Nanyah, popularly known as Nanyah_music and fondly called the “Soprano Queen”, who was recently bitten by a cobra at her residence in Lugbe, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory, has again raised consciousness about snakes in our environment and how to stay alive after a bite from a snake.

The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday last week has since sparked intense public debate, with many Nigerians questioning how a preventable death could happen in the nation’s capital due to the unavailability of life-saving anti-venom.

Public health advocates note that Nigeria records an estimated 20,000 snakebite cases annually, with about 2,000 deaths, according to a 2021 record of the State Ministry of Health. Many are attributed to delayed treatment and the absence of anti-venom.

When a snake strikes, it doesn’t usually inject venom directly into your veins. Instead, the poison enters the lymphatic system—a network of vessels that relies on your muscles to move fluid. This means that you are the pump. If you move, the venom moves. If you stay still, the poison stays trapped.

This article explores the 5-Step Survival Protocol to take when you have a snake bite

1. Be Still

Panic is the venom’s best friend. When your heart races, your blood pressure spikes, and your lymphatic pump accelerates. The first—and hardest—step is to force your body into a state of total “statue-like” calm. Sit or lie down. Breathe deep. Every movement you save is a minute added to your life.

2. Immobilise the Bitten Limb

Position the bitten limb at or slightly below the level of your heart. You want to make it “uphill” for the venom to reach your core. If the bite is on your leg, do not walk. If you are alone, crawl—or better yet, shout for help so someone can carry you.

3. Remove Constricting Items 

Snake venom often triggers an “inflammatory storm.” Within minutes, your arm or leg could double in size. Rings, bracelets, and tight sleeves quickly turn into accidental tourniquets, cutting off blood flow and causing permanent tissue death. Strip away all jewelry and restrictive clothing immediately before the “Swell Zone” expands.

4. The Pressure Immobilisation Technique (PIT)

If you have an elasticated bandage, use the PIT method. Think of it as a “Sprained Ankle Plus.”

The Wrap: Start at the bite and wrap upward toward the heart.

The Tension: It should be firm enough to compress the shallow lymph vessels but loose enough that you can still feel a pulse. You are trying to shut down the “venom highway” without killing the limb’s blood supply.

5. Seek Immediate Medical Assistance (Do Not Attempt Field Remedies): 

The movies have lied to you. There is no “sucking out the poison” or “cutting it out.” These are myths that only cause infection and faster absorption. Your only goal is to get to a facility stocked with antivenom. Call emergency services immediately; symptoms like dizziness or blurred vision can hit like a freight train—don’t wait for them to start

The “Deadly Sins” (What NOT to do)

Don’t Wash the Wound: Leave the residue. In the ER, doctors can swab the bite site to identify the specific cocktail of toxins, ensuring you get the right antivenom.

No Ice, No Water: Cold can actually concentrate the venom’s tissue-destroying enzymes in one spot, leading to faster necrosis.

Stop the Snake Hunt: Identifying the snake is helpful; getting bitten a second time is a disaster. If you can, take a photo from five feet away. If not, let it go. Your life is worth more than a “positive ID.”