What is a snake bite?
A snake bite is a wound that you get from being bitten by a poisonous snake. A venomous (poisonous) snake bite is a bite caused by a snake that has venom (poison). Venomous snakes use venom to paralyze (cannot move) and start digesting (breakdown tissues) the prey animals they eat. A poisonous snake has two fangs (big pointed teeth) that inject the venom when it bites. When venom is released during a bite, it enters your tissues and spreads to other body parts. The venom can cause swelling, bleeding, and damage to your muscles, blood vessels, nerves, and other tissues. This can lead to low blood pressure, organ failure, and even death if not treated right away. Getting treatment within four hours after the bite may prevent the venom from spreading and causing these problems. What types of poisonous snakes cause bite injuries? There are many different species (types) of poisonous snakes that can cause venomous bite injuries: • Snakes native to the United States: Venomous snakes live in
