Sucking snake venom out of the wound
If you have been bitten by a snake, its venom will enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body quite quickly. Therefore, sucking it out of the wound makes no sense at all. Moreover, it can damage nerves and blood vessels and lead to infection.
After a bite, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. The injured person should remain rested and warm, and the wounded part of the body should be kept below the level of the heart. If it is not possible to get to a hospital soon, a tourniquet should be applied above the bite, but the venom should not be extracted.
Pretend to be dead when meeting with a predator
In this case, a lot depends on the animal you encounter. However, dropping to the ground and pretending to be dead is rarely a really effective tactic. In fact, it may only cause the puzzled animal to take a greater interest in you. If he’s hungry, he’ll want to investigate you first, and there’s no telling what he’ll come up with next.
Your best course of action is to slowly and cautiously leave the scene of the encounter. As a rule, the predator does not plan to eat you, but simply wants to scare you and get rid of your presence. Do not try to run away from him. Firstly, he is faster, and secondly, this will only irritate the beast, who will likely try to chase you down. Instead, try to look bigger, such as unzipping your jacket, straightening up to your full height or raising your rucksack above your head.
But it’s best to take steps in advance to avoid such an encounter. When travelling through the forest, try to make as much noise as possible. Sing, talk, whistle, whistle, and clink your crockery. Animals will recognise your approach in advance and try to get away.
