To tell him to go to A&E?

[0AliasGrace0]

Just got these pics through from a friend. He thinks he was bitten by a snake at an outdoor theatre event tonight. Two puncture wounds that bled, hand is now tingling and swelling. I'm usually very chilled with health things but looking at that (and after a quick google) told him to get himself off to A&E. He's dithering...any snake bite experts out there?

If it was an outdoor event and the snake wasn't wild (which is what it sounds like you're saying) I wouldn't say it was serious. If it was a wild snake, yes, he needs to get it seen sooner rather than later. Most snake bites aren't too bad though, I've been tagged a couple of times myself and didn't go to the doctors. Nothing dangerous to humans, though!

Hope he’s ok. I have worked in a &e and my hospital would have no clue what to do with this.

Unfortunately A&E are not the medical saviours people think

There seems to be more out visibly this year round where I am.

Really smallhorse? They do seem to do a pretty good job of keeping people alive. I guess if they were stuck for what to do they could refer to the NHS advice page on snake bites: www.nhs.uk/conditions/snake-bites/

smallhorse does have a point on some A&E departments. I've regularly been in two near me and I'm amazed each time that the doctors have got medical degrees. The nurses also think they are over worked and it's too busy with like 3 patients in, which is kind of pathetic when you compare them to an actually busy hospital where nurses and doctors barely get a chance to breathe let alone stand around gossiping. There's definitely better A&E departments out there than these two.

How’s he doing?

I am going to the open air theatre this weekend. I think I will take a chair and a total body cagoule!
Hope he is ok

Hope he is ok. Snakebite wouldn't even have occurred to me

I wonder if they’re a bit more active with the heatwave you’ve been having there.

Hope he’s ok!

I hope hes ok!!

Do wish we could get through one thread without people bashing the NHS for literally no reason though

Glad he listened to you and A and E took him seriously! People who are difficult about getting medical treatment are a pain in the arse!

I feel like I need to shut my window that's above my head after reading this

Hope he's ok.

Blimey - a snake bite in the UK, that must be pretty unusual.

Hope he's doing OK.

I also didn’t realise we had snakes that could bite here! Scary!!!

Thank goodness you persuaded him to go. Can’t believe how reticent some blokes are to get medical help!

I feel really thick. I honestly didn’t know we had wild snakes in the UK 🙈

That sounds awful! I hope he is ok

Particularly in these current heatwave, need to watch out for snakes.

Gosh, hope he's okay this morning!

Bad allergic reaction to either some sort of insect bites or plant...not a complete waste of nhs time as the swelling continued up his arm but not quite the snake bite emergency imagined The "puncture wounds" as he described them were actually blisters which have burst. I'm not quite sure what to make of it all but glad he's ok. No idea whether he's received any treatment as he just dropped a quick text in the early hours.

Apologies A&E.

That would have been an A and E case regardless IMO. Glad your friend is ok.

Glad he's comparatively okay.

Ah glad he's ok

Adders are in this country but you very rarely see them and they will only bite if they feel threatened.

It's usually dogs who end up being bitten as the snakes like to lounge in grassy areas basking on rocks which warm up nicely.

Dog doesn't see the adder, steps on it and gets bitten.