But since they are out there, here is some information about vipers, what they look like, and what to do if one bites. All rights reserved. Viper, common name for snakes in a family of venomous snakes, characterized by a pair of long, hollow fangs, usually with reserve fangs beside them, in the front of the upper jaw. The fangs fold back against the palate when not in use and quickly swing forward to strike, injecting a deadly venom that kills prey and also serves as a defense. The viper generally has a broad, triangular head, and the eyes have vertical pupils.
Most vipers give birth to living young from eggs hatched inside the mother's body.
First Aid for Snakebites Over the years, snakebite victims have been exposed to all kinds of slicing, freezing and squeezing as stopgap measures before receiving medical care. Some of these approaches, like cutting into a bite and attempting to suck out the venom, have largely fallen out of favor. This is because we now know these things can do harm and we don't know if they really change the outcome. Wash the bite with soap and water. Immobilize the bitten area and keep it lower than the heart.