Be Prepared for the Outdoors with SnakeBite911™ - The Essential Complement to Your First Aid Kit

Additional features of SnakeBite911 include a Snake Sightings Map to view and share snake sightings in your area, and a Hospital Locator tool to locate the nearest hospital equipped to treat venomous snakebites. The app also offers tips on how best to navigate snake-inhabited terrain, how to provide basic first aid in the event of a bite, and "dos" and "don'ts" in a snakebite emergency.

"Any delay in treatment after envenomation is dangerous," said Dr. Spencer Greene, director of medical toxicology and assistant professor, Baylor College of Medicine. "SnakeBite911 gives people a step-by-step approach that is accurate and efficient, and that can ultimately help prevent tissue damage in the victim."

According to the Department of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation, approximately 8,000 venomous snakebites occur each year in the United States. Most snakebites take place between March and October, making now a good time to download this helpful app. The public SnakeBite911 app is available for FREE download in the App Store^® for iPhones and iPads compatible with iOS 8.0 or later. Versions of SnakeBite911 are also available for emergency first responders and emergency room healthcare professionals, and can be downloaded for FREE from the App Store^® by searching for SnakeBite911 FR and SnakeBite911 ER.

Fighting Misconceptions

SnakeBite911 advises anyone bitten by a venomous snake to remain calm and seek immediate medical attention. In contrast to popular belief, many actions thought to be beneficial when a snakebite occurs may actually put the victim at greater risk of infection or loss of limb. First aid advice provided by SnakeBite911 for pit viper envenomation includes:

• DO NOT use tourniquets.
• DO NOT attempt to cut or apply suction to the bite site.
• DO NOT apply cold packs or ice to the skin.
• DO NOT use Advil^®, Motrin^® and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
• DO NOT use shock treatments or apply electricity to the bite.
• DO NOT attempt to capture or kill the snake.
• DO NOT attempt to transport the snake.

Time is Tissue^TM  — Get Emergency Support

"There is a startling lack of public knowledge with respect to venomous snakebites and how to treat them, even among individuals who are outdoorsy," advises Tom Logan, head of patient outcome management, BTG plc. "In the rare occurrence of a snakebite, time really is tissue, and quick and appropriate care is absolutely paramount for the victim. With SnakeBite911, we're making vital information about first aid easily accessible and making it easier to seek immediate medical attention."

SnakeBite911 is designed to assist in getting immediate medical support. Using the built-in GPS of a mobile device, the Hospital Locator generates a list of hospitals ranked by distance that could potentially offer suitable snakebite treatment. This feature works even without a cell signal by using your most recent tracked location.

The app's emergency support features include a time-stamped Venom Tracker, which uses the device's built-in camera to capture photos of the bite area at regular intervals. This can help doctors and first responders with quick diagnosis, and to assess how quickly the venom may be spreading, in order to provide appropriate treatment.

BTG also recommends consulting the local poison control center by dialing the Poison Help line (800-222-1222). Poison Control Centers have an excellent track record of working with physicians, healthcare providers, and members of the public to ensure quick and appropriate care for snakebites.

For more information on the app, snakebite treatment, and where North American pit vipers are found, visit SnakeBite911 online at: crofab.com/snakebite911.

SnakeBite911 and the snakehead logo are trademarks of Protherics UK Ltd.

About BTG
BTG is a growing international specialist healthcare company bringing to market innovative products in specialist areas of medicine to better serve doctors and their patients. We have a portfolio of Interventional Medicine products to advance the treatment of liver tumors, advanced emphysema, severe blood clots and varicose veins, and Specialty Pharmaceuticals that help patients overexposed to certain medications or toxins. Inspired by patient and physician needs, BTG is investing to expand its portfolio to address some of today's most complex healthcare challenges. To learn more about BTG, please visit: www.btgplc.com.

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SOURCE BTG plc

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