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commonly asked questions about snakes
Where must you take a snakebite victim?
It is best to transport a snakebite victim promptly and safely to the nearest hospital with a trauma unit. A hospital is better than a doctor for a few reasons – hospitals are better equipped with emergency equipment and sometimes a ventilator may be required.
Is antivenom always used in snakebite victims?
Giving antivenom depends on a variety of factors like the age, size and general health of the victim, the site of the bite, the snake responsible and the amount of venom injected. Remember that over 80% of all snakebite victims do not require antivenom. The attending doctor will look at the symptoms and in cytotoxic bites – like the Mozambique Spitting Cobra and Puff Adder bite – the rate at which swelling progresses may be the deciding factor.
In neurotoxic bites – like Black Mamba and Cape Cobra bites – the doctor will look for progressive weakness, which invariably results in difficulty in breathing and only then, if required, will antivenom be administered. Antivenom comes in 10ml vials and in a serious snakebite the doctor may use between 10 – 30 vials (at close on R1 000 a vial). Less than 10 vials is generally a waste of time. And don’t ever bother to take the snake (dead or alive) along to the hospital – you may scare the medical staff away and in any event it is not important as the doctor needs to treat symptoms and not a snakebite.
Another reason why antivenom should only be administered in a hospital environment is that a large number of people (around 50%) are allergic to antivenom (it is made from horse blood) and in serious cases, such persons may go into anaphylactic shock, a very serious medical condition. Doctors counter anaphylaxis by injecting adrenaline and will immediately stop the administeration of the antivenom.
What first aid can you do at home for snakebites?
First aid for snakebite is quite simple – if you are close to a hospital (less than one hour away), immobilise and reassure the patient and transport him/her to the hospital quickly and safely. You may remove jewellery and tight clothing but do not apply a tourniquet, do not cut and suck the wound and do not give the victim alcohol or painkillers such as aspirin.
The biggest danger with snakebite from a life or death point of view is that the victim may stop breathing. Neurotoxic venoms may affect breathing within less than an hour and it is the lack of oxygen to the lungs that causes most human fatalities. If you are far from a hospital, consider acquiring a bag valve mask reserve and do a course in how to use one (go to www.africansnakebiteinstitute.com). One
can also make use of pressure bandages to delay the spread of venom and that is well explained in snakebite first aid books.
What snakes are the most common in the lowveld?
In Southern Africa the Mozambique Spitting Cobra is responsible for the majority of serious snakebites (but seldom cause fatalities), followed by the Puff Adder and the Stiletto snake. These three snakes account for more than 90% of all serious snakebites and all three are common in the Lowveld.
The Black Mamba causes the most human deaths but bites are not that common. Unfortunately there is no good rule when it comes to distinguishing between dangerous and harmless snakes so do take precautions whereever possible. Always wear shoes at night, especially when camping; be careful when moving rubble or collecting firewood and never handle snakes, even very small ones. Check your front and back door – if the gap under the doors is big enough for you to squeeze your little finger into the gap, it is big enough for a snake to enter. Mosquito doors are an excellent solution for keeping snakes out of your home.
There is no chemical or plant that will keep snakes out of your property – rather remove building rubble and bear in mind that rodents and frogs (around water features) attract snakes.
What do you do if your pet is bitten?
As for pets, it’s the same deal. If your pet is bitten by a snake, transport it to a vet immediately and if necessary the animal will be treated with antivenom. And forget about all the myths – no traditional remedy works on snakebite.
INFO 082 494 2039, jmsnakes@gmail.com, www.africansnakebiteinstitute.com
A hatchling Boomslang shedding.
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