Do Snakebite Kits Work? The Evidence Says No

Commercial snakebite kits are widely sold — but research shows they are ineffective. Modern snakebite first aid relies on evidence, not suction devices or tourniquets.

Despite decades of research and clear medical evidence, many people still believe in outdated treatments for venomous snakebites — such as suction devices commonly sold as “snakebite kits” in outdoor stores.

This tool is not only ineffective — It may cause harm.

Before you attempt to help someone who has been bitten by a venomous snake, do not rely on collective wisdom, television dramatizations, or what you see on a store shelf. Instead, seek proper training, understand the evidence, and stay current.

Below, I provide a written explanation, along with a short video discussing the topic.

Why Snakebite First Aid Still Matters

In our wilderness medicine courses — including Wilderness First Aid — we teach the proper management of a venomous snakebite. Although such incidents are exceedingly uncommon in the United States and fatalities even rarer — far more people die each year from bee stings than from snakebites — the subject still warrants attention for two important reasons.

First, low probability does not mean zero probability. Even if the odds are small, the consequences can be significant. If you or someone in your group is bitten, accurate knowledge matters.

Second — and more importantly — misinformation about snakebite treatment remains widespread. From newspapers to first-aid manuals to even some medical publications, outdated remedies and beliefs continue to circulate. Unfortunately, some of these misconceptions are still reinforced by the relative popularity of commercial snakebite kits.

The Problem with Suction Devices and Tourniquets

The logic behind these kits sounds reasonable: if a snake injects venom, and venom is harmful, then removing the venom, like with suction, must be helpful.

It sounds logical.

It is not.

Most commercially available snakebite kits include suction devices. Some also include a scalpel and an elastic tourniquet. However, research strongly indicates that suction devices do not meaningfully remove venom from tissue.

A study published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine (“Suction for venomous snakebite,” February 2004) examined whether a commercially available suction device could remove injected mock venom. Researchers injected the mock venom into volunteers, waited three minutes to simulate real-world delay, and then applied the device. The result was clear: the device removed virtually no mock venom. The authors concluded that suction is unlikely to be an effective treatment.

If citing a study from two decades ago seems outdated, consider this: subsequent research and clinical guidelines have consistently reached the same conclusion. That is, suction devices are ineffective so are not recommended for snakebite first aid.

A practical comparison may help. Think about your last vaccine injection. Once the serum was delivered into your muscle and tissue, how easily could you have suctioned it back out — even a minute later?

You could not.

Venom behaves no differently once injected.

Even more concerning, in the case of a pit viper bite — such as a rattlesnake, copperhead, or cottonmouth, which account for the vast majority of venomous snakebites — additional research suggests that attempting suction — especially when combined with a tourniquet — may worsen local tissue damage and, in severe cases, the risk of amputation of an extremity.

In short, the attempted treatment may be more harmful than the bite itself.

What Proper Snakebite First Aid Actually Looks Like

Modern snakebite first-aid is not dramatic. It does not involve cutting, suctioning, or improvised heroics.

In the case of a pit viper bite, as an overview, management simply involves:

Keeping the patient calm and limiting movement
Removing rings, watches, and other constricting items on an affected extremity
Gently cleaning and dressing the wound
Immobilizing the affected limb as straight as possible
Arranging prompt transport to an emergency department

The key is not equipment.

It is judgment.

Replace Myth with Method

Before relying on something you saw in a movie, read or watched online, found on a store shelf, or was “suggested” to you by an algorithm while shopping online, invest in proper training. Evidence-based wilderness medicine replaces myth with method — and builds confidence grounded in fact rather than folklore.

If you would like to learn more about snakebite first aid or how to best handle other wilderness medical emergencies, visit True North and explore our upcoming courses.

Meet the Author

Erik Kulick, Founder & Chief Instructor

Erik is a Pennsylvania-certified EMS Instructor, Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine, and served in law enforcement. He works with individuals and groups across all skill levels -- from beginners to members of the SOF community. He's been featured in national and international media, including CNN, The Associated Press, Backpacker, and The Guardian.

To learn more about Erik, visit him on LinkedIn and be sure to follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.