Abstract
Only one species of venomous snake, the adder,
is indigenous to the UK, but many people keep
venomous snakes as pets and others travel to places,
such as the United States, where a wider variety of
venomous snakes can be found. Emergency nurses
should therefore be prepared to treat bite wounds
caused by venomous and non-venomous snakes.
This article offers an overview of the most common
forms of envenomation in the UK and makes
recommendations for the clinical care of people who
have sustained snake bites