Can a human survive a Boomslang bite?

Oh my gosh, can a person actually survive a boomslang bite? That's a terrifying question, isn't it? I remember seeing a documentary once – completely freaked me out – about this tiny snake with venom so powerful... I mean, seriously powerful.

The answer is yes, you can survive, but it's a HUGE if. Like, a really, really big "if." It's all about getting to a hospital, fast. Seriously fast. The venom from a boomslang isn't like some of those other snakes where you instantly feel the effects. Nope, it's sneaky. It's slow-acting. You might feel a little something, or maybe nothing at all, initially. Then, bam! Hours later, maybe even days, the real trouble starts.

I read somewhere – I think it was a National Geographic article or something – that while boomslang bites are deadly, fatalities are actually relatively rare. That's a little confusing, right? It's deadly, but rare? It just goes to show you how powerful antivenom is. But without it? Oh man, internal bleeding is a major concern, and that can... well, you get the picture. It can be really, really bad.

My uncle's friend's cousin (yes, I know, a bit of a roundabout story!) was bitten by a puff adder once – not a boomslang, but still a seriously venomous snake. He waited too long to go to the hospital, thinking he was fine. He wasn't fine. It was terrifying. So please, if you – or anyone you know – gets bitten by any venomous snake, don't mess around. Get to a hospital immediately. Don't delay, don't even think about it twice. Just go! It could save your life.