SNAKES & BITES

There are 54 species of snakes found in Kruger, only nine of which are deadly poisonous. Although the black mamba is often portrayed as the most dangerous snake in Africa, 90% of bites to humans are actually by the Mozambique spitting cobra and the puff adder.

First Aid for snakebite

DO'S:

• Get everyone well away from the snake.
• Get medical help as soon as possible
• Try to obtain a clear description of the snake. However, this isn't essential, and you shouldn't waste time looking for it. The symptoms will give the doctor a good idea of the kind of snake (neurotoxic etc.), and the severity of the bite.
• Stay calm, and reassure the person who has been bitten. Fear and anxiety cause an increase in heart rate, and thus a more rapid spread of venom throughout the body.
• For neurotoxic and haemotoxic snake bites, it may help to wrap a crepe or pressure bandage firmly around the area of the bite, covering the entire limb (from fingertip to armpit; from toe to groin). Apply hand pressure at the site of the bite until a bandage or strips of fabric can be obtained.
• Keep the person as still as possible and immobilise the affected limb by binding splints (e.g. straight branches) to either side of the limb. Keep the affected area lower than the heart if possible.
• If a snake spits into someone's eyes, rinse with large amounts of water, preferably by holding the head under a running tap for about 15 minutes. This will also require treatment at hospital: a drop of antivenom is placed in the eye.
• Observe the person closely and record any symptoms and the time taken for them to appear.
• If the patient stops breathing, you will need to breathe for them until they can get expert medical help.

DON'TS:

• Don't use antivenom except in a hospital environment. Some patients react against antivenom and may go into anaphylactic shock, a serious condition that requires emergency medical treatment. Antivenom also needs to be kept refrigerated, injected correctly (into the bloodstream, not the muscle, and not into the bite site), and given in sufficiently large quantities to be effective.
• Don't cut and suck the wound, or use suction cup devices or electric shocks
• Don't give the patient anything to eat or drink
• Don't rub potassium permanganate into the wound or soak the limb in home remedies
• Don't try to catch and kill the snake

Preventing snake bites

• Don't try to catch or kill snakes; get in an experienced snake handler.
• Watch where you step. Always use a torch when you walk outdoors at night.
• Wear boots and long trousers in the bush or veld. Step on top of, not over, logs or rocks. Stick to well-cleared footpaths.
• Don’t put your hand into holes, above your head onto ledges, or under objects when picking them up.
• Stay away from "dead" snakes - they may be feigning death.
• Always keep your cell phone with you when hiking, and keep it charged.

If you're going to be in an area without cell reception, consider getting radio communication, and make sure someone knows where you're going and when. Have all the relevant emergency numbers on you, and know which are the nearest medical facilities.

• Don't keep exotic snakes as pets; antivenom for their bites is not available locally.
• Don't be blase about snakes; many bites (and some deaths) occur as a result of snake collectors and even experts with many years experience getting careless.

* PLEASE NOTE THIS INFORMATION IS ONLY A GUIDE THAT WE
HAVE TAKEN FROM ‘HEALTH 24’ VIA THE INTERNET………WE HOPE
YOU / WE NEVER NEED IT BUT JUST IN CASE WE THOUGHT IT
WAS WORTH ADDING.