If you’ve been bitten by a snake that you suspect is poisonous, the best thing to do is to hightail it to the nearest emergency room. Some snakebites, most notably those from rattlesnakes such as the Eastern diamondback, can be fatal. However, hospital emergency units stock very effective antivenoms that will have you feeling better in no time.

One fact that may make you less nervous is that snakes only envenomate, or inject their venom, between 25 percent and 75 percent of the time. The rest of the time they leave nothing more than fang holes and a frightened victim.

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The following is a guide to treating the most common types of bites, as well as a few tips on how to avoid getting bitten in the first place. Of course, if you have had a run-in with a creature that you suspect is dangerous, whether or not it is discussed here, don’t attempt self-treatment. See a doctor without delay. The same advice holds true if you experience any signs of illness (such as fever, loss of consciousness, nausea, dizziness, or vomiting) following a bite.

Ice an itch. Itchy mosquito bites may benefit from an ice-cold compress. Ice decreases the inflammation and stops the pain and itching. Doctors recommend icing the bite for 20 minutes at a time every few hours. The same goes for nonpoisonous spider bites, which can also leave an itchy welt.

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Bites can range from itchy to painful to life threatening. And you needn’t live out in the wilderness to run the risk of getting one. In fact, one of the most dangerous kinds of bites can be inflicted in your very own home - a bite from a fellow human being! (Doctors agree that humans have more bacteria in their mouths than most wild animals, no matter how often we brush our teeth.)

Many bites can be treated at home, although others, like a human bite, require an immediate visit to the doctor or emergency room. The trick is distinguishing the dangerous from the benign.

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