Snake bite victim saved by swift action. Options

[Game Warden]

www.witness.co.za reports that British tourist Harriet Edwards was bitten by a puff adder whilst hiking in the Drakensberg - the quick response Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife officials probably saved her: read the full story here.

[Game Warden]

www.witness.co.za reports that British tourist Harriet Edwards was bitten by a puff adder whilst hiking in the Drakensberg - the quick response Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife officials probably saved her: read the full story here.

[madaboutcheetah]

Very lucky, I suppose ........

[Atravelynn]

A testament testament to the draw of that continent:

I'm surprised you wouldn't immediately know you had been bitten by a snake. Sneaky buggers!

"Nevertheless, she said this incident will not stop her from returning to South Africa. "

[twaffle]

I'm surprised you wouldn't immediately know you had been bitten by a snake. Sneaky buggers!

A friend of my son's was bitten by a brown snake but he said he hardly felt anything. It was only because he glanced down, saw the snake and found fang marks in his arm. He was lucky as the hospital ER doctors said he had been given a dry bite, i.e. no venom.

Apparently our red bellied black snakes give a more painful bite.

[Geoff]

Apparently our red bellied black snakes give a more painful bite.

Yes, and yet red bellied black snake venom is far less toxic than any other common dangerous Australian snake.

[twaffle]

It is an interesting issue, snakes and snake bite. If you live in an area with venomous snakes, you just always have it in the back of your mind and should know basic first aid. But the first aid for your type of venom may not work with other snakes. For instance, you wouldn't want to use our Australian first aid if you were bitten by a rattlesnake in the Mojave, so I am told!. Apparently, it is counter productive. So you probably need a little sheet telling you how to treat the snake bites in the country you are visiting.

The number of people who have bare legs or sandals in venomous snake country seems weird to me, but their snakes may have such long fangs that boots and cloth may offer no protection. For our local snakes we are told that good boots and strong denim fabric will stop most fangs! I wouldn't take any chances.

[Brian's Art ...]

wow.. that has to be my worse fear.. getting a snake bite. I must check behind the toilet and under the bed and in my shoes a million times in fear of a snake calling my tent home for the night. In my five times in kenya, i have only seen 3 snakes on hikes from a few feet away (two cobra, one black mamba) and i will be happy to go to Kenya 100 more times without seeing anymore

They say a big fear is heart attack from many after the bite since people think snake equals death.

[Atravelynn]

Here is my puff adder tale.

I was on a guided waterfall hike in Bwindi with a mother and her 18-year old daughter. The daughter strode to the lead, ahead of the guide, exhibiting her energy and independence. Her mother told her to fall back in line and fortunately the daughter was not stubborn and defiant and immediately heeded Mom's wishes. This left the guide in the lead. He took about 2 more steps and jumped high into the air and off the path. We all stopped behind him. "Puff adder!" he exclaimed as the snake slithered onto the path. It decided to remain stretched across the path.

We kept our distance and took photos then walked around it, giving the snake a wide berth. That daughter was a few steps away from a potential deadly encounter.

Once again it pays to listen to your mother.

[twaffle]

Thanks Lynn, I will tell my children to take heed!

I have a puff adder story from years ago when I was at school in Nairobi. We had a mad Englishman as our science teacher and one day a small puff adder slid through the door of our class room. Our teacher picked it up and took it around the class to show everyone. Not sure how keen the parents would have been! He showed us how to make gun powder and set it off in the class room, much to everyone's glee. He was a great science teacher as he didn't seem to have any idea of risks and consequences … children love that!

[Atravelynn]

He picked up the snake? A puff adder or two in today's schools might be effective as discipline.

[twaffle]

Yes, but then a teacher or two will undoubtedly die in the cause. This teacher was particularly mad (as a snake! ). All the teachers were a bit mad, I think a lot had come from the English Public school system. Our Latin teacher used to tell stories about running naked through the boarding house. Bit dodgy behaviour if you ask me.

[dikdik]

Snake stories. I have a few. I used to collect them (snakes - not stories), until I realized it wasn't the best thing for the snakes.

My manager had a huge puff adder at his door. His little toddler was nearly bitten if it were not for the dog which attached the puff adder, hence the dog was bitten in the face. I dont know if you know what a boerbul is? Its like a cross between a bull mastiff and a pitbul, but bigger. They are very popular dogs here and are huge and muscular, but very good around kids.

The dogs head swelled up like a basket ball. He took it to the vet and amazingly it survived with no lasting effects. The puff adder was not so lucky.

[twaffle]

Snake stories are like horror movies IMO. You really want to hear them, even the worst of them, knowing you will be terrified and also knowing that you will be safe.

I am glad the dog survived.

The only snake stories I can't stand are the ones about some of the poor snakes which are skinned alive and then eaten (not in Africa). I hope that is a custom which is on the way out.

[dikdik]

There are a few more stories. My brother was bitten by a Black Mamba and survived. He actually featured on discovery channel a few times. There are not many Mamba survivors around. You should see the respect even the craziest snake wranglers give the Black Mamba.

[twaffle]

I saw a Discovery doco on a man who was bitten by a black mamba and was airlifted to Jo'burg (I think). He was rafting, again I think! Was a while ago now. They are beautiful snakes though. I would like to see a boomslang. From inside a vehicle of course.

Yesterday I had to sort some horse feed bins which were all upside down. I gingerly turned them over expecting to see a large brown snake … fortunately nothing. I did find the largest redback spider I have ever seen, along with eggs, several smaller redbacks with red showing and dozens of tiny little spiderlets (is that a word?). Maybe it should be spiderlings. They are all dead now.

[Hebog]

My only Boomslang was on foot, next to the Dining area at Lebala The guide identified it and told the guests to stay away because it was poisonous. With his reputation for jokes (Spencer) no-one believed him, except my very wise wife (no she isn't watching me type this, honest) who confirmed his caution. Strangely they believed her more than a very experienced and knowledgeable guide. Despite the crowd around it the snake calmly slid into the bush, so no snake bite in this tale.

[dikdik]

Some useless information.

A boomslang is back fanged and very shy. there are very few cases of boomslang bites and even less fatalities, although it is potentially extremely dangerous. With it being back fanged, it has to chew, and has to bite you on an extremity. It is also unlikely that the bite will penetrate clothes. The amazing thing about boomslangs is that they come in such a variety of colours - Brown, green and yellow. Its venom is unique and is heamotoxic which causes blood loss.

Cobras are neurotoxic and adders are cytotoxic. A mamba is a cobra.

I know you Australians are no strangers to snakes, but there are some interesting changes in the treatment of snake bites in the last few years. See Here and Here

[twaffle]

Dikdik, I want to see a green boomslang please!

But seriously … all that advice on snakes and snake bite is what we have been getting here in Australia as well and it certainly seems to work. I noticed on Venom ER (Animal Planet) the bites from rattlesnakes are handled differently and they do not seem to recommend bandaging. Apparently the venom reacts differently but I haven't looked further into what other recommendations experts give bush walkers in the USA.

Living in the bush, snakes and snake bite treatment is something I take very seriously and teach my children likewise.

Interesting stuff.

[twaffle]

My only Boomslang was on foot, next to the Dining area at Lebala The guide identified it and told the guests to stay away because it was poisonous. With his reputation for jokes (Spencer) no-one believed him, except my very wise wife (no she isn't watching me type this, honest) who confirmed his caution. Strangely they believed her more than a very experienced and knowledgeable guide. Despite the crowd around it the snake calmly slid into the bush, so no snake bite in this tale.

I am envious that you saw one, was it green!

[Hebog]

The lighting was good and it was green