Snake bite kit

Fix those fang holes with this pocket-sized pack

Product

Coghlan's Snake bite kit

Promise

Pocket-sized complete kit for treating snake bites

Performance

OK so the chances of getting bitten by a fanged viper in the UK are pretty slim, but number 1: we thought these little beauties looked kind of cool and they'll make you look ever-so-adventurous and brave if you whip one out on the trail, and 2: You just never know, do you. Wouldn't you feel foolish if it happened to you and you DIDN'T have a pocket-sized snake bite kit squirrelled away in your pocket.

Basically this little kit takes the form of two small rubber suction cups that fit together. Pull them apart and out pops a scalpel, 'lymph constrictor', antiseptic swab, and those all-important instructions.

So here's the deal: first off, make sure you have actually been bitten by a poisonous snake. This is usually identifiable by two distinct puncture marks in the skin, burning pain and localised swelling (the area around the bite may turn purple or green) and a dry mouth. Non poisonous snakes may also bite but in this case, you'll usually see two U-shaped rows of fine tooth marks. in this case, just clean the wound with mild soap and water and apply a sterile dressing.

So if you've identified a poisonous snake bite, do the following:

1. If antivenom is available, inject it immediately. If not, use your Snake Bite Kit.

2. Crush the antiseptic glass tube in your fingers (it's in a cardboard tube, so you won't be adding a cut finger to your ailments), then clean the entire area of the bite and your scalpel blade

3. Place the 'lymph constrictor' round the limb between the bite and the heart within 1.5" of the wound. Tighten only until the skin is dented.

4. Make a small 1/4" incision over the fang marks (never make incisions on fingers, toes or over a visible blood vessel)

5. Apply suction cups over the incisions by squeezing the cup, placing over wound, and releasing. Most of the venom should disappear within an hour.

That's it. Survival in a small plastic tube.

Verdict

We like to think that some of our readers do venture further than the delightful shores of the UK from time to time and therefore there is every chance you'll come face to face with something much larger and more ferocious than a common British viper. So get yourself one of these smartish is our advice. *

* We gave it four stars just because we're now never going to leave home without it. But we'd like to point out that WideWorld has not been bitten by a snake. Yet. So this review was purely theoretical.