Most snake bites in the UK are not serious. But it's important to get all snake bites checked as soon as possible.
Call 999 or go to A&E immediately if:
- you think you, or someone else, has been bitten by a snake
If you're not in the UK when you are bitten by a snake, contact the emergency medical services in the country you're in.
Get foreign travel advice on GOV.UK
If you've been bitten by a snake, there are things you can do while you're waiting for medical help.
You'll usually need to stay in hospital for at least 24 hours if you've been bitten by a snake.
The bite will be cleaned and bandaged. You may be given an injection to help protect you from tetanus.
If you were bitten by a poisonous (venomous) snake you'll be treated with a medicine to fight the venom. This is given through a thin tube into a vein, called a drip.
Only 3 types of snake are found in the wild in the UK.
The adder is the only poisonous (venomous) snake, but you should get all snake bites checked as soon as possible.
Telling the doctors the colour and pattern of the snake that bit you could help them treat it.