After a snake bite, stay still, remove rings and watches, and rush to a hospital offering antivenom — no cutting, no suction, no tight binding

No cost involved. The key is knowing in advance which nearby hospitals stock antivenom; the real challenge is resisting the urge to treat the wound yourself.

The WHO original text contains three sentences. One is: 'Immediately and completely immobilize the bitten body part and promptly transport to the nearest medical facility for treatment.' Another is: 'Avoid using a tourniquet and avoid cutting the wound.' There is also a sentence: 'Treat with appropriate antivenom specific to the local snake species.' 'High-quality antivenom is the most effective treatment for preventing or reversing most of the toxic effects of snakebites.' Globally, approximately 81,000 to 138,000 people die from snakebites annually, and the number of people suffering amputations and permanent disabilities is about 3 times the number of deaths. China's 2024 snakebite treatment guidelines estimate that there are 250,000 to 280,000 cases of venomous snakebites in the country every year. Those bitten are mostly people aged 50 and above. Hospitals in the Yangtze River Basin and 11 southern provinces admitted 40,817 snakebite patients from 2017 to 2021. 23 people died during hospitalization (0.06%). The International Red Cross 2025 first aid guidelines state: The bitten person should move as little as possible; if bitten on the leg, do not walk. Remove jewelry, watches, and tight clothing to prevent swelling from constricting blood flow. Do not use a tourniquet, do not suck the wound, do not apply cold compresses, do not rub, and do not cut the wound with a knife; these practices are useless and may cause more harm. If you can safely take a photo of the snake, do so, but do not try to catch or kill it.

WHO. 动物咬伤 实况报道. https://www.who.int/zh/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/animal-bites ; WHO (2023). 蛇咬伤中毒 实况报道. https://www.who.int/zh/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/snakebite-envenoming ; Lai R 等 (2024). The Chinese guideline for management of snakebites. World Journal of Emergency Medicine 15(5):333-355：「An estimated 250,000–280,000 cases of venomous snakebites occur in China each year, affecting mainly patients aged ≥50 years」. https://doi.org/10.5847/wjem.j.1920-8642.2024.076 ; Yan S 等 (2026). Clinical epidemiology of snakebite envenoming in hospitals 11 provinces of Yangtze River Basin and southern regions of China. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases：「withdrawal (4346, 10.65%), and death (23, 0.06%)」. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0013247 ; International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (2025). International First Aid, Resuscitation and Education Guidelines 2025，第 339–341 页：「Remove jewellery, watches or tight clothing to prevent blood flow being restricted if there is swelling」「The following actions are not effective and may even cause further harm: applying a tourniquet, sucking out the venom, applying a cold compress, rubbing the bite, cutting the wound with a knife to increase bleeding」「Do not try to catch or kill the snake. Consider taking a photo」. https://www.ifrc.org/sites/default/files/2026-03/IFRC%20International%20First%20Aid,%20Resuscitation%20and%20Education%20Guidelines%202025.pdf

Take a photo of the snake if you can — do not attempt to capture it. Avoid alcohol, running, suction of venom, ice packs, and overly tight bindings. China does not publish official nationwide statistics on snake‑bite mortality. Although the reported hospitalization mortality rate in those 11 provinces appears low, over 10% of patients leave the hospital before completing treatment; their subsequent outcomes are not reflected in these figures.