East Coast Hots

The Venomous Snakes of
the Eastern United States

According to the Centers For Disease Control, in case of a snakebite;

Do remain calm - Remember that there is an excellent chance for survival, and in most cases there is plenty of time.
Do suck and squeeze - as much venom as possible directly from the wound. Venom is protein and can be taken orally with no ill effects.
Do remove jewelry - Swelling can progress rapidly, so rings, watches and bracelets can be a real problem.
Do mark the time - The progress of symptoms (swelling) is the most obvious indicator of the amount of envenomation.
Do keep the stricken limb below the heart.
Do get to a hospital as quickly as possible - Anti-venom serum is the only sure cure for envenomation, and because some people are allergic to horse serum it should only be given in a fully equipped medical facility.
In case of a Coral bite, do pull the snake off immediately - Corals' fangs are relatively small, and they have to work at getting venom into the wound. Therefore, the faster the snake is removed the less venom is injected.
Do attempt to identify the offending snake - Positive identification in the form of a dead snake is helpful, if convenient, but no time or safety should be wasted since the symptoms will give medical personnel an accurate diagnosis.
Do get a tetanus shot.