If the hand or foot turns white or the pulse disappears, the tourniquet is much too tight. The American Red Cross recommends that you not release the tourniquet until after antivenin has been given. Never put ice on the area of the bite because ice can cause frostbite, which increases the risk of damage to the skin. Sometimes the snake has disappeared by the time the parent has been notified. In other cases, the snake has been killed but is hard to identify.
Most bites are from harmless snakes, but some precautions are in order.
Treatment Usually, the small teeth of a snake just leave a scrape that doesn't even puncture the skin. There should not be any fang marks. Just wash it well with soap and water. If the skin is punctured, call for a tetanus booster if your child hasn't had one in more than 5 years. The bite area is swollen.