If you have been bitten by an adder or an unidentified wild snake in the UK, you should seek immediate medical attention (see Snake bites, adder - treatment).
The healthcare professionals who treat you may ask about the colour and size of the snake to identify which type of snake has bitten you.
You may be admitted to hospital, where the severity of the snake bite can be assessed by:
- monitoring your symptoms, for example, any swelling or redness that appears
- monitoring your general condition, for example, your heart rate and temperature
- carrying out blood tests, to check whether the venom is affecting your red and white blood cells, how your blood clots and your muscle and kidney functionÂ
In more serious snake bite cases, an electrocardiogram (ECG) may be used to monitor your heart function.
An ECG records the rhythms and electrical activity of your heart. A number of electrodes (small, sticky patches) are placed on your arms, legs and chest. The electrodes are connected to a machine that records the electrical signals of each heartbeat.
