Bathinda: The Bathinda Health Department has issued an advisory regarding necessary precautions to prevent snakebites during the rainy season.
Providing details, Civil Surgeon Dr. Tapinderjot stated that snakebite incidents are common during the monsoon. The District Health Department is fully prepared to provide emergency medical services to handle such cases.
He advised that after a snakebite, the victim should go to a government hospital instead of seeking help from untrained individuals. For any medical information, one can contact the Health Department's helpline number, 104. They explained what should and should not be done in the event of a snakebite:

Immediate measures to take in case of a snakebite:
*   Reassure the person who has been bitten, as 70 percent of snakes are non-venomous.
*   20 percent of bites are "dry bites" (where the snake strikes but does not inject venom); therefore, there is no danger.
*   Only 10 percent of snakes are venomous.
*   Anti-snake venom injections should be administered based on a doctor's advice for every snakebite incident.
*   Fear alone can cause panic, a rapid heartbeat, and severe chest pain, potentially leading to a heart attack or even death.
*   However, a snakebite victim can be saved if treated with anti-snake venom injections at a hospital within 4 to 6 hours.

Precautions to be taken:
*   Seat the person comfortably; do not attempt to suck the venom out of the bite site; leave the bite site or wound exposed. * To prevent the venom from spreading through the body, tie a cloth loosely above the bite site.
* Avoid any movement; movement can cause the venom to spread to the rest of the body.
* Venomous snakes usually bite in the dark at night; therefore, avoid walking barefoot in the dark.
* Instead of relying on home remedies after a snakebite, the victim's life can be saved by seeking treatment—specifically the administration of anti-venom injections—at the nearest government hospital or health center.
* Free treatment (injections) for snakebite victims is available at medical colleges, district hospitals, and sub-divisional hospitals.