Snakes on the move: What to do after a snakebite in Shenzhen

As hot weather continues in Shenzhen, snakes have been increasingly spotted in the city's hilly and wilderness areas. Reports of snake sightings have emerged from many popular hiking spots across the city, with one resident reportedly spotting 12 snakes within just two hours while visiting a country park.

Screenshot of a Xiaohongshu post claiming the account owner spotting 12 snakes within two hours in a park in Shenzhen. 

According to statistics, Guangdong is home to 93 snake species across 50 genera and six families, including 33 venomous species. Snakes are most active when temperatures reach 25°C to 30°C, making April through October the peak season for venomous snake sightings and snakebite incidents in Shenzhen. Most snakebite cases occur around dusk, at night or in the early hours of the morning.

What to do if bitten by a snake

If bitten by a snake, the most effective response is to get to a hospital for proper treatment as soon as possible. Call the 120 emergency hotline to request an ambulance promptly, or transport the patient to the hospital using a proper vehicle that minimize movement. 

Before reaching the hospital, the following measures are recommended:

1. Repeatedly rinse the wound with clean running water to reduce venom that may remain around the bite.

2. Closely monitor the patient's condition, including his/her consciousness and breathing.

3. If possible, remember the snake's appearance or take a photo of it with your phone. This can help doctors identify its species and determine the appropriate treatment. But don't worry if the snake cannot be identified, as doctors can still make a diagnosis and determine treatment based on the patient's clinical symptoms of envenomation.

First aid at the scene should be limited to non-invasive measures and must not delay medical treatment. The sooner anti-venom is administered, the better the potential outcome. 

Once admitted, patients should actively cooperate with their doctors’ treatment.

Additional information

1. There are no absolute contraindications to the use of anti-venom for venomous snakebites. Whether anti-venom is needed depends on the patient’s symptoms of envenomation. Spending too much time trying to identify the exact snake species may delay the best time to administer anti-venom.

2. Initial anti-venom dosage is standard for all patints regardless of gender, age and weight; trust medical professionals’ dosing decisions.

3. Rountine tetanus prevention should be carried out after a snakebite.

Hospitals offering anti-venom treatment in Shenzhen

There are currently 16 hospitals in Shenzhen that stock anti-venom. As antivenom is a specialized medical resource and supplies may change at any time, residents are advised to call 120 for an ambulance to a hospital offering anti-venom treatment. Those who choose to send a patient to hospital on their own should choose a hospital offering anti-venom treatment and call ahead to confirm the availability of anti-venom.

Below are a list of Shenzhen hospitals that offer anti-venom treatment. Unless otherwise noted, they all stock anti-venom for copperheads, sharp-nosed viper, Chinese krait and cobra bites:

Futian District

Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital

The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital

Nanshan District

Shenzhen University General Hospital

Southern University of Science and Technology Hospital

Luohu District

Luohu District Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital

Yantian District

Shenzhen Yantian District People's Hospital (Group)

Longgang District

Shenzhen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine

Shenzhen Third People's Hospital (does not stock antivenom for Chinese krait or Chinese cobra)

Longhua District

The People's Hospital of Longhua, Shenzhen

Bao'an District

Shenzhen Bao'an Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital

Pingshan District

Shenzhen Pingle Orthopedic Hospital (Shenzhen Pingshan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital) Main Campus

Pingshan District People's Hospital of Shenzhen

Guangming District

Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Guangming Campus

The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University

Dapeng New Area

Dapeng New District Kuiyong Branch of Shenzhen Second People's Hospital

Shenshan Special Cooperation Zone

Peking University Shenzhen Hospital Shenshan Outpatient Department