VENOM LOCC™ compresses a ‘moat’ of tissue completely around the bite site that isolates the venom to that area and helps prevent it from reaching the circulatory system. By preventing the venoms distribution throughout the body, VENOM LOCC™ delays life-threatening symptoms that could occur--primarily shock and respiratory arrest. It can be used on any area of the body with enough soft tissue to create a compression site such as the thigh, calf, bicep, hamstring, flank, forearm, back, chest, buttock, etc.

If safely possible, take a photo of the snake to show the doctor. This could save valuable time and money in treatment. Remain calm and get to a hospital emergency room as quickly as possible. If you are far from a hospital, with VENOM LOCC™, you now have an option of using a treatment that may help save your life until you get to emergency medical care.

Keep the victim calm. Minimize movement of the area of the body where VENOM LOCC™ has been applied. Check frequently that the device has not moved.  Make sure that the tissue around the bite is compressed and that there is a dome of tissue in the center of the device.  Make sure that the blood flow is not stopped by over-tightening the strap!

As an emergency medicine physician and toxicologist, I have treated snake bite victims who presented to the emergency department suffering not only from the bite, but also from shock (very low blood pressures). Recognizing that there was no wilderness treatment that would delay the onset of shock, a life-threatening situation, I created VENOM LOCC™ as bridge between bite and definitive emergency medical care.

Most snake bites involve venom injected into the soft tissues just below the skin, not into blood vessels or the muscle compartments. The venom then travels within the body in the liquid of the subcutaneous tissues. This liquid gets collected in the thin walled tubes of the lymphatic system where it then travels towards the central blood circulation. Once the venom reaches the circulatory system, its effects can become systemic. I theorized that by effectively compressing the soft tissues around the bite site with only moderate pressure, we could hold the liquid at the bite site and not impede any blood flow. Trapping the venom at the bite site would prevent it from traveling to the blood and possibly delay the onset of life-threatening symptoms like shock or respiratory arrest.

Tissue toxic snake venoms will often injure or destroy the soft tissue surrounding the bite site. Nothing will change this. VENOM LOCC™ will not prevent localized tissue damage from happening. VENOM LOCC™ was designed to be lifesaving by delaying the onset of life-threatening systemic symptoms such as shock, paralysis, or respiratory distress and give bite victims valuable time to seek medical care.

Clinical research has shown that tourniquets, cut and suck kits, and vacuum devices are not effective as first aid treatment for snake bite. Use of these kits is now discouraged by physicians.  However, recent studies from both the US and Australia show promise with the use of a ‘pressure immobilization bandage’ for hand or foot bites.  This technique compresses the lymphatic system of the entire affected extremity to inhibit the distribution of venom up the arm or leg.  Applying this compression approach, VENOM LOCC™ focuses a localized compression to just the soft tissues around the bite site to stop the lymphatic flow and help prevent shock.

VENOM LOCC™ was specifically designed not to act as a tourniquet.  Instead, the compressive force of the strap causes the device to compress only the soft tissues around the bite wound. This compression serves to hold the venom at the bite site and prevent it from being absorbed into the blood. VENOM LOCC™ allows the victim time to get to a hospital for care.

The best treatment is prevention—avoid getting bitten. Stay aware when you are in areas where snakes may be found. When climbing or hiking always look before placing your hands or feet. If you see a snake, view it from a reasonable distance -never attempt to pick it up. These are wild animals and will protect themselves if they feel threatened.

The old cut, suck and tourniquet snake bite kits as well as newer suction device kits have been shown to cause more injury to the patient while providing no benefit. Even more importantly, these kits have not been shown to delay the onset of shock, a life-threatening condition.  Current medical research has shown that these devices don't removing venom and only waste valuable time.

While hands and feet are the most common sites for snake bite, these areas only account for about 10% of a person’s body surface area. Snake bites have been reported on virtually every part of the body. No current commercially available snake bite kit effectively treats bites to the hands or feet.

VENOM LOCC™ is safe and does should not cause further injury to the bite victim as it does not require cutting, suction or the use of a tourniquet as other commercially available snake bite kits do. If VENOM LOCC™ is placed on a non-venomous snake bite or even a “dry bite” from a venomous snake, no injury will occur other than possibly some slight bruising where the device was placed.

VENOM LOCC™ is designed to allow snake bite victims time to seek medical treatment by preventing life-threatening shock.  It is ideal for anyone who may encounter a venomous snake and must travel to a medical treatment facility for care. VENOM LOCC™ is small and light, fitting easily in a cargo pocket, day pack, or purse and can go anywhere that there is a risk of snakebite.

There is no evidence to suggest this would not work.

Because VENOM LOCC™ made in America out of a durable waterproof material, with proper care the device can be carried for years and reused as many times as needed.