Primary prevention
Avoiding contact with snakes and avoiding envenomation if bitten are the primary preventive measures. Avoiding contact includes keeping away from tall grasses and brush, rocks and fallen logs, swamps and marshes, and holes in the ground. Wearing loose pants or jeans and boots with thick leather or rubber construction helps avoid envenomation if bitten. In an experimental setting, denim material was reported to interfere with venom delivery. It is unclear whether these results can be extrapolated to snakebites occurring in a natural setting.[18] Snakes may still have a bite reflex after death and handling of any snake, dead or alive, should be avoided.[19]
Secondary prevention
Patients should be instructed on snakebite avoidance and first aid for snakebites. American Family Physician: snakebite prevention and first aid Opens in new window
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