Have one of those and a plunger suction kit in each truck on the ranch. Never have had to use one yet, but i heard they were the best.

As a paramedic our treatment for snakebite and that which we give to our pt's is that if it is anything other than a coral snake that the only thing you should do is
1. Keep the pt from moving around.
2.Keep the bitten area below heart level if possible.
3.Do not apply ice or a tourniquet.
4.Do not give them any alcohol to drink.

For a coral snake:
All of the above plus
1. Bandage the limb form the are of hte bite to the hand/foot, then back up to the body, snugly enough to allow one finger to slip between the bandage and the skin.
2. Immobilize the limb by splinting if possible.

You should never cut and suck a wound, especially on another person. You are introducing yourself to any blood born disease like HIV or Hepatitis. Very little venom will come out and if you do you are then sucking venom into your mouth that is lined with mucous membranes that are full of capillaries and allow rapid introduction of poisons into the blood stream.

Use common sense and call 911

Good stuff...thank you.

The link must have changed because the article on the site now suggests using electrical shock as a method for treating snake bites. Interesting article but I am skeptical. The early medical field experimented with electrical shock and high voltage therapy for everything from snake bites to hair loss. I just don't see it in common day practice. This was deemed mostly quackery.

First Aid for Snake Bite Victims
If someone has been bitten by a venomous snake, it is important to seek medical attention promptly. Call 9-1-1 or the Texas Poison Center Network at 1-800-222-1222 for information about which medical centers in your area have the appropriate antivenom. If possible call ahead to the medical center so the antivenom can be ready when the victim arrives.
It is also important to identify the kind of snake that bit the victim. Even taking a dead snake with you to the medical center is appropriate if it can be done without further risk or injury. Extreme caution should be used when bringing in a snake because even though the snake may be dead, its reflexes may still allow the snake to bite.

What to do for snake bite victims.
•Move the victim safely away from the snake. If you see the snake, try to remember what it looks like or take a digital picture of it if you can do so without putting yourself at risk. This will aid the doctor in determining which antivenin is needed.
•Do not attempt to capture the snake; however if the snake is dead, place it in a suitable container and bring it with you to the hospital for identification. Be careful to avoid contact with the dead snake′s head however, as it may be able to bite reflexively for a short time after death.
•Keep the victim, and yourself, calm.
•Remove jewelry or constricting clothing from the victim quickly, before any swelling begins.
•Lift the bitten limb so that it is level with the heart. Raising it above heart level could hasten distribution of the venom to other parts of the body. Holding the limb below heart level could lead to increased swelling of the affected limb.
•Limit movement of the bitten limb and avoid any unnecessary exertion by bringing transport to the victim, if possible.
•Gently wash the bite wound with soap and water, if available.
•Call 911 if available and seek medical attention immediately. If you are transporting the victim to a hospital, call ahead so that the medical staff can prepare the antivenin for administration upon arrival.

What NOT to do for Snake Bite Victims
•Do not attempt to suck venom from the bite wound.
•Do not make cuts over the snake bite. This often leads to more tissue trauma and damage.
•Do not apply a tourniquet or other constricting device.
•Do not apply a cold pack or ice to the snake bite.
•Do not apply an electrical shock to the snake bite.
•Do not take pain reliever or other medications unless instructed to do so by a physician.
•Do not drink alcoholic beverages.
•Do not administer antivenom in the field. Treatment for snake bites is best conducted in an appropriate medical facility.

In case of bite
So what happens if you get bit? Or you are caring for the bitten? First, remind yourself or the patient that they are not going to die from the snakebite (almost 100% true) and to keep calm which lessens the increase in heart rate and decreases circulation which will help decrease the absorption of the venom.

Take care of any immediate threats. Make sure the offending snake is not close by and remember that dead snakes may still have a bite reflex. Assure the patient has an open airway and adequate respirations and be ready to intervene if necessary. If you are IV capable, start a line. Immobilize the bitten part if possible to slow absorption of venom.

Now, do you elevate the bitten part or keep it low?

Logic suggests that if the bite produces mostly local damage you would want to elevate above the heart to help prevent or decrease edema and additional tissue damage; but if the bite is producing systemic symptoms like shock or bleeding then perhaps the bitten part should be lowered to decrease venom absorption. Or perhaps the best bet is to keep the involved body part level with the heart. That may be the most logical position because we may not be able to determine if the bite will progress one way or the other.

Determine the time of the bite if possible. Mark a spot above and below the bite and measure the circumference, note the time and repeat the measurement every 10-15 minutes during transport if not too busy with more urgent treatment. Mark the leading edge of any bruising and/or swelling and note the time. The rate of progression of signs at the bite site and the development of systemic symptoms or signs will help determine if antivenom is indicated and the amount of antivenom administered.3 Crofab is the anitvenom for pit viper envenomation and is commonly available. However there is a dwindling supple of coral snake antivenom as the only company that manufactured the product has ceased production.7 Fortunately, another company has initiated production of a new anti-neurotoxin called Anacoral Antivenom and clinical trials by the University of Arizona will begin in June of this year.

Identify the snake without endangering yourself, like a cell phone photo or two. And if you have that capability, take a picture of the bite site and note the time, then repeat if there is change.

DO NOT cut, suck, shock, or freeze the bite site nor restrict blood or lymphatic flow in or out; these all makes it worse. However, for a neurotoxic snake bite it appears that a pressure immobilization wrap from below the bite to above the bite may be of benefit if done appropriately.9,10 But discuss this technique with your medical director before utilization.