"Sucking out venom, either by mouth or with a pump, does not work and may harm the affected area directly." [..]) Also forget cutting and restricting as suggested in this kit (see snakebite at Wikipedia). As for bug / spider bites: "Do not cut or apply suction to the wound." [..]. Studies show the only positive results are placebo effects. Finally, WebMD states "Do not suck on the bite wound or use any kind of extraction device" as well as "Do not use a constriction band, such as a tourniquet or bandage, on a bite."
UPDATE: Below is from the Wall Street Journal Medical Department May 13, 2009:
"The suction devices are still under debate. One of the most popular devices, the Sawyer Extractor, sold by Sawyer Products Inc. of Safety Harbor, Fla., consists of a syringe-shaped chamber with a plunger that creates a vacuum. The company suggests leaving it on 10 to 15 minutes to extract the venom.
However, a study in pigs and one using radioactively labeled simulated venom injected into the thighs of eight human volunteers found the Sawyer Extractor ineffective. "It removes just a minute quantity of venom," says pig-study author Sean P. Bush, a professor of emergency medicine at California's Loma Linda University School of Medicine. Some doctors fear the deep suction could even worsen outcomes by killing skin at the wound site. The human study, published in 2004 by researchers at the University of California in Fresno, found that the device removed no more than 1% to 2% of mock venom from the leg.
Sawyer Products owner Kurt Avery says he believes the studies show only that the product doesn't work well in large muscle areas, such as thighs and calves. Based on the results, the company changed its label about two years ago to warn that the pump is "not as effective" at removing venom from large muscle areas. Mr. Avery maintains the product is effective when the bite is under the skin in hands, feet and other nonmuscled areas.
That argument doesn't sound plausible to Stanford University's Paul S. Auerbach. Dr. Auerbach, who had advocated use of the Sawyer pump in his 2003 book "Medicine for the Outdoors" and is listed on Sawyer's Web site as supporting the product, says the new edition of his book, expected out next month from Elsevier Inc., will recommend against its use based on newer research."
UPDATE: The UA Med Center Fall 2012 Mag says the UA Poison and Drug Center tells of the 8,000 venomous snakebites each year, fewer than 10 are fatal. "Much of what has been taught in the past is not useful today and can often even be harmful. Do not cut or use suction, a tourniquet, electricity, or ice. Just get the victim to the hospital as soon as possible." p56
I didn't purchase this for the intended useI purchased them to use on nipples and other body parts. They're also sold on sites that specialize in products for BDSM as well as sex toys. I purchased them from Amazon because they're cheaper than they were on the Adam and Eve website. The only complaint I might have is the inside rim has a hard edge that can be a bit uncomfortable, but if used with a good lubricant, it's not as pronounced.
I can't attest to how effective they are or aren't on snakebites, and I hope I never have to know, but I can tell you they work rather well on nipples and other body parts.
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I bought this kit for my 22-year-old niece, who is expecting her first child in Jan 2013, as a "less-expensive" alternative for her to try and draw out flat/inverted nipples during her 3rd trimesterso she can breast feed. She started wearing breast shells, but didn't feel like it was doing anything, so after looking into a couple pricier products, we happened upon this (given one reviewer rating it for male-nipple enlargement). Since she already had the hard shells, I also purchased the Philips AVENT BPA Free Standard Nipple Protector, to give to her with this kit. So far, she says it seems like this product will work for the purpose she needed it for; although, apparently the inner-edges aren't very soft, or feel a little sharp around the areolas (so as not to discourage her, I haven't told her that the inner-edges of her snake-bite-cups will feel like heaven in comparison to the 1st week-or-so of nursing). Also, unbeknownst to us at the time of purchase, I guess the smaller cup that comes with this kit turned out to be great for pulling out just the nipple. My niece says after a few times of using the larger 2 cups around both the nipple and areola, she was able to use the smaller suction cup to draw out just each nipple even further. So between the suction cups & continuing to wear the breast shells (since these cups cannot be worn inside a bra or under clothes) she'll hopefully feel more confident, or maybe won't be as discouraged as she would have, once the baby has arrived and she starts nursing (which as many moms know, can be painful for both mom and baby). FYI, use lubricant to avoid cracking or cuts (she's using a lanolin breast feeding cream, but I'm sure anything emollient would work). As mentioned, these can't be worn under clothes or a bra (at least not for someone with larger breasts). Cups are easy to keep clean with warm water/soap (not sure if she's sterilized them yet or how they'd hold up). And lastly, obviously this kit was purchased for something totally different then its intended use-and so my niece could try [it] for $6.92 1st, before purchasing a more expensive product specifically designed for what she needed-so the onus is on her/us if she winds up being dissatisfied or something. Not sure about anything snake-bite related with this product either...
Breast feeding, inverted nipple corrector, supple cups, nipple everter
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Though the simplicity of this makes you sometimes wonder why purchase it, careful consideration leads you to the conclusions: All parts in this tiny kit have a great many uses outside its designed use. For a survival kit, you can easily find yourself in dozens of situations where you need one or more of the parts in this kit, any of which could greatly contribute to your ability to survive.
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Just wanted to have it in a day pack, hope to never have to use it or rate it's potency.
My gums are so healthy from using these daily. Better and easier to use than floss. Less expensive than other brands and just as good Love these!
