Snake Bites

The number one thing you can do to reduce conflict with venomous snakes is to learn about the wildlife that live alongside you and treat them with respect - David Steen

Snake Bites
Snake Bites

image by: Australian Conservation Foundation

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The Snakebite Problem

Globally the greatest burden is experienced in the tropical world; where many nations remain under developed or suffer from poor governance, political and/or social, conflict, resource scarcity, high disease burdens, or food insecurity...

The reality too, is that the tragedy of snakebite is not all about large numbers of victims. A snakebite is a terrifying experience at an individual level, perhaps more so for young children, who are often over-represented in snakebite numbers, and may not be old enough to comprehend what has occurred or understand the cause of their distress or suffering. While a painful death is how Hollywood typically protrays snakebites in film, the reality…

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Resources

 The Snakebite Problem

Snakebite affects the lives of around 4.5 million people worldwide every year; seriously injuring 2.7 million men, women and children, and claiming some 125,000 lives. Globally the greatest burden is experienced in the tropical world; where many nations remain under developed or suffer from poor governance, political and/or social, conflict, resource scarcity, high disease burdens, or food insecurity.

Asclepius Snakebite Foundation

We are an international team of clinicians and scientists on a mission to reverse the cycle of tragic snakebite outcomes through a combination of innovative research, clinical medicine, and education-based public health initiatives.

Global Snakebite Initiative

The Global Snakebite Initiative Limited (GSI) is a registered non-profit, charitable organisation, based in Australia, but with global membership, and established to provide a collaborative framework to address the neglected global tragedy of snakebite envenoming.

Venom Doc

Welcome to Bryan Grieg Fry's world. It is a life spent living and working with snakes. Lots of very, very poisonous snakes and other venomous creatures. Everything from the Malaysian king cobra to deadly scorpions. Bryan is passionate about venomous animals, in all their glorious shapes and sizes. When asked what it’s like to live his childhood dream of working with these animals he said “‘I am obeying the inscrutable exhortations of my inner-most soul, and my mandate also includes crocodiles’.

Australian Herpetology Online

Welcome to the UPDATED Australian Herpetology Online website hosted by Kingsnake.Com the most comprehensive Reptile & Amphibian portal on the Internet today.

eMedicineHealth

Serious venom effects can be delayed for hours. A victim who initially appears well could still become quite sick. All victims possibly bitten by a venomous snake should seek medical care without delay. The faster the patient is treated appropriately for a poisonous snakebite, the better the prognosis.

FP Notebook

Extensive management site.

Kingsnake.com

The most comprehensive Reptile & Amphibian portal on the Internet today.

MayoClinic

•Don't use a tourniquet or apply ice. •Don't cut the wound or attempt to remove the venom. •Don't drink caffeine or alcohol, which could speed the rate at which your body absorbs venom. •Don't try to capture the snake. Try to remember its color and shape so that you can describe it, which will help in your treatment.

MedicineNet

Bite severity depends on many factors, including the amount of venom injected, bite location, and a person's age and health. Seek immediate medical care if you think you've been bitten by a poisonous snake.

MedlinePlus

Venomous animals account for a large number of deaths and injuries, worldwide. Snakes alone are estimated to inflict 2.5 million venomous bites each year, resulting in about 125,000 deaths. The actual number may be much larger. Southeast Asia, India, Brazil, and areas of Africa have the most deaths due to snakebite. The right antivenom can save a person's life. Getting to an emergency room as quickly as possible is very important. If properly treated, many snake bites will not have serious effects.

MerckManuals

Of about 3000 snake species throughout the world, only about 15% worldwide and 20% in the US are dangerous to humans because of venom or toxic salivary secretions.

NHS

Some snakes are venomous and can inject venom (toxin) as they bite. A bite from a venomous snake is a medical emergency as they can be deadly if not treated quickly. In the UK, adders are the only venomous snakes found in the wild. People also keep foreign (exotic) venomous snakes, sometimes illegally. Exotic snakes have been known to bite while being handled carelessly, or when they escape from their cages.

Patient.info

Snake bites can be life-threatening injuries that can require intensive care.[1] The majority of people who are bitten by snakes in the UK, and indeed in countries where venomous snakes are more common, will have been bitten by a non-venomous snake. However, unless the identity of the snake is known with certainty, it is advisable to administer first aid with the assumption that the snake may have been venomous. Snake bites are uncommon in the UK. There is only one indigenous poisonous snake - the Vipera berus, or adder; however, other species of snakes may be found in private collections or zoos.

WHO

Envenoming following snakebite, is largely a neglected threat to public health. It affects mainly the poor in deprived rural areas where health facilities and are limited and anti-venoms may be hard to obtain. Training of health staff in the management of envenoming is often neglected, despite good evidence that it improves outcome.

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