Page 137 - Participant Manual

Box 7-6. Rabies

Rabies is a serious infection that attacks the brain and spinal cord
and causes death if it is not treated. The virus that causes rabies is
spread when an animal that has the disease bites another animal or
a person. Wild animals (such as foxes, skunks, bats and raccoons)
can carry rabies. Pets and livestock can also carry rabies if they are
not vaccinated against it.

Animals with rabies may act strangely. For example, those that
are usually active at night may be active in the daytime. A wild
animal that usually tries to avoid people might not run away
when people are in the area. Rabid animals may drool, appear to
be partially paralyzed, or act aggressively or strangely quiet.
Call 9-1-1 or the designated emergency number if a person is bitten
by an animal that could have rabies. If possible, try to remember
details about the animal’s behavior and appearance, and where you last saw it. When you call 9-1-1 or the
designated emergency number, the dispatcher will direct the proper authorities, such as animal control, to
the scene.
A person who is bitten by an animal that might have rabies must get medical attention immediately.
Treatment for rabies includes a series of injections to build up immunity that will help fight the disease.

If the bleeding is minimal, wash the wound with soap and water and then rinse with clean, running water.
Apply a small amount of antibiotic wound ointment, cream or gel to the wound if the person has no known
allergies or sensitivities to the ingredients, and then cover the wound with a dressing and bandage. The
person should monitor the wound over the next several days to make sure that it is healing well with no signs
of infection (see Chapter 6, Box 6-1).

Venomous Snake Bites

Venomous snakes found in the United States include rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths (water
moccasins) and coral snakes (Table 7-1). Prompt medical care significantly reduces the likelihood of dying
from a venomous snake bite. Most deaths from venomous snake bites occur because the person had an
© 2011, 2016 The American National Red Cross. All rights reserved.
allergic reaction to the venom or is in poor health, or because too much time passed before he or she
received medical care.

Signs and Symptoms of Venomous Snake Bites

Signs and symptoms of a possibly venomous snakebite include a pair of puncture wounds and localized
redness, pain and swelling in the area of the bite.

First Aid Care for Venomous Snake Bites

Call 9-1-1 or the designated emergency number immediately. If you are not sure whether the snake bite was
caused by a venomous snake, call 9-1-1 or the designated emergency number anyway. Do not waste time
trying to find and capture the snake for identification, and do not wait for life-threatening signs and symptoms
of poisoning to appear.

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