The following was swiped from a reputable herpetological page. I provide it here for what it's worth. I neither encourage nor discourage making use of the information here. You're a grown-up.
You can make up your own snakebite kit easily and relatively inexpensively. In addition to a ammunition or similar pouch such as available in any army-navy or surplus store to contain the stuff, you should have the following items: At least one roll each of 2" and 3" ACE or comparable elastic bandaging with clips. Several sterile 4 x 4 surgical gauze pads; a small bottle of betadine solution. One roll each of 1/2" and 1" surgical adhesive tape. (Do not use paper or clear plastic tape). Sawyer Extractors, if you want to include them, are available in most camping gear, hunting/fishing or outdoors shops. If you cant find this device it is available from this website for $20.00 with profits used to help maintain the various educational website operations. Be Prepared. Whether you are out in the field where venomous snakes occur or you keep them as a hobby or work with them in your job, these essential items, the ability to apply them rapidly without panic or confusion, can buy you precious time and help save your life if the unthinkable occurs.
This website advocates the use of containment of injected
venom at or near the bite site using broad
(2"-3"-4") compression bandaging such as ACE(tm)
elastic bandage. This is the standard worldwide accepted
first-aid treatment of bites by elapid snakes such as cobras,
coral snakes and many Australian species. This method has delayed
on the onset of serious snakebite symptoms as long as 24 hours in
Australia where victims of deadly bites were that far from
medical assistance.
However, the use of containment for certain types of North
American pit viper (rattlesnake, moccasin and copperhead) bite is
felt by some to increase the risk of disfiguring local tissue
injury, which, while not necessarily life- threatening by itself
may necessitate skin grafts and extensive repair and treatment
once the acute, life -threatening phase of the event has passed.
We feel that the spread of venom to vital organs can be
life-threatening and that you have no way of knowing how
life-threatening a snakebite is in the first moments of the
event. Therefore, users of this method must recognize that there
is a trade-off: containment as a life-saving measure at the risk
of local tissue damage which while not necessarily
life-threatening, could be disfiguring, painful and which could
require prolonged and extensive follow-up treatment. We therefore
urge readers who decide to use this method on ANY type of
snakebite as a life or death decision but to make that decision
in recognition of the above information. Significant bites
directly into blood vessels are invariably fatal as the ability
to contain venom is impossible under such circumstances. Most
bites are into the subcutaneous lymphatic circulation, the flow
of which is impeded or halted, by the methods advocated.
This website is for informational purposes and no liability is
assumed in its use. For information on ordering Sawyer Extractors
and to send your Comments/suggestions etc e-mail:
grenard@con2.com
OR: Snail Mail Grenard, 57 CLay Pit Road, Staten Island NY 10309
or call 1-718-227-6234. Thank you.