The sharp, piercing pain
came from out of nowhere.
Your throat tightens
as you stare down your attacker.
The World Health Organization
says snakes bite about
five million people annually,
causing 81,000 to 138,000 deaths.
Your best chance of surviving
these fatal bites is with antivenom,
but you would need to identify
what your potential killer is.
Don't worry, we've got your back.
Here is our list of the top five
deadliest snake bites.
Knowing your enemy can help you survive.
To avoid snake bites,
be especially careful in places
like sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia,
Southeast Asia and other
developing or tropical countries
they're where up to 95%
of snake bites happen.
But there's always an exception.
And you'll find this
creature in Australia.
The inland taipan's
color varies from brownish
like green to a richer color,
often called a dark tan.
These broken chevron
markings are its dark scales
which grow on an angle.
They can grow bigger,
but these snakes average about
1.8 m (5.9 ft) long.
The inland taipans venom
contains a complex mix of toxins
that paralyze muscles, inhibit breathing,
cause hemorrhaging
and blood vessels and tissue
and damage muscles.
The venom can kill a human
in about 45 minutes
because it acts so fast.
Some people have died within 30 minutes.
As the venom speeds through your body.,
don't waste time
trying to suck out the poison.
Instead, try to be calm
and roll over onto the recovery position.
Staying there until you get medical
help will keep your airway open and clear
and you won't choke
on any fluid or vomit.
Found in Southeast Asia,
this colorful snake
has alternating black
and yellow bands down its body.
These beautiful creatures can grow up
to 1.8 m (5.9 ft).
But its neurotoxic venom
can cause severe brain damage.
And during the Vietnam War,
it killed hundreds of American soldiers.
If you get bitten, it's crucial
to slow down the spread of the venom
throughout your body.
To do this,
try to position yourself
to keep wherever you were bitten lower
than your heart.
The king cobra is the largest
venomous snake in the world
and lives in South and Southeast Asia.
Easily one of the most
recognizable snakes.
The olive green with the black
and white bands on the trunk
converges to the massive head.
Their huge bodies
usually grow about 3 to 4 m (10 to 13 ft) long.
The venom contains paralysis
inducing neurotoxins,
and its bite spews
a lot of venom into the victim.
Even elephants die in a few hours
after being bitten by a king cobra.
And for us.
Well, without treatment,
we've got a 50 to 60%
chance of dying.
Use a clean, dry
bandage to cover the bite.
Try to use a pressure
immobilization bandage if possible.
Wrap the dressing tightly around the bite
and wrap another bandage
all around the limb so it stays still.
The less you move,
the less venom will spread
through your system.
Found in Southern Asia
and sub-Saharan Africa,
don't let this 90 cm (35 in) viper fool you.
Behind this small, pear-shaped head
and reddish brown
spotted body
is one very aggressive snake.
Its venom is not as lethal
as the other snakes on this list.
So why do scientists consider it
to be one of the deadliest snakes?
Well, it bites early and a lot.
That's why you should never try
killing a snake.
It will only increase your chances
of getting bitten again.
This resident of sub-Saharan Africa
is the fastest snake in the world
as it speeds along at up
to 5.5 m/s (12.5 mph).
The black mamba grows
2 to 3 m (6.5 to 10 ft) long
and its skin varies
from gray to dark brown
with a grayish white underbelly.
A black mamba can kill a human
in less than 30 minutes.
It's known for using its
lethal fangs to repeatedly
stab its victims
who can't get away fast enough.
To survive, you'll need to get to
a hospital right away.
And now that you know what
each of these deadly snakes looks like,
you can tell the doctor
which antivenom you need.
And that could save your life.
But how could you live through other
vicious animal attacks?
Don't worry, we've got the
perfect video for you.
To be prepared and stay alive,
keep watching How to Survive.