Scientists discover lifesaver lotion

Unfortunately, the new lotion won’t work against all snake venoms. But for people who might come in contact with the eastern brown snake.

For a person who has the rotten luck to get bitten by a poisonous snake, every second counts. That’s because venom can spread quickly from the site of the bite to the rest of the body, causing pain, suffering — even death. Australian scientists now have found a way to give snakebite victims more time to get help, Science News reports.

A team identified a lotion that can delay the spread of some venoms. In a new study, the researchers show that when the lotion is applied near the wound shortly after a snakebite, the poison travels more slowly through the body.

“This treatment might make all the difference between dying on the road and getting to the hospital in time,” David Warrell told Science News.

Unfortunately, the new lotion won’t work against all snake venoms. But for people who might come in contact with the eastern brown snake, a particularly poisonous serpent found in Australia, the cream could be a lifesaver.