L’story takes place in China, in the Zhejiang region (in the east of the country). Zhang, a 60-year-old farmer, goes to chop wood in the mountains… and is bitten by a snake. The sexagenarian immediately identifies the animal: it is a Deinagkistrodon acutus, a viper better known as the “5-step serpent”. Popular wisdom says that anyone who has been bitten can only take 5 steps before collapsing…
Terrified (and understandably so), Zhang grabs his ax and… cuts off his finger, to prevent the spread of the venom. “I cut it to save my life!” he told his doctor a little later. Determined to live, Zhang wraps his bruised hand in a cloth and goes to the nearest hospital (the Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine) located 80 kilometers away.
The sexagenarian is received by Dr. Yuan Chengda and it’s a cold shower. “His act was really unnecessary,” says the dermatologist, who points out that Zhang did not show any symptoms when he arrived at the hospital.
Snake bite: beware of “false good ideas”!
“The reputation of the 5-step snake is greatly exaggerated,” adds the specialist, who deplores misinformation at the origin of many acts of self-mutilation. “In reality, if the treatment is administered within 6 hours of the accident, the snakebite is not fatal.” If the doctors were unable to reattach the severed finger (abandoned in the mountain ), Zhang is now recovering.
I have been bitten by a snake, what should I do? First good reflex: call the emergency services (15 or 112) and, if possible, precisely describe the responsible snake. Then, remove rings, watches, shoes… which could compress the bitten area. Disinfect (if possible) the bite thoroughly with an antiseptic. Finally, lie on your side quietly and immobilize the affected area.
Not to do : suck the wound, take anti-inflammatories or aspirin, apply a tourniquet, drink alcohol, incise or cover the wound. According to L’Assurance Maladie, 369 land snake bites were reported to anti-poison centers in 2016 in France.
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