Warmer weather increase risk of snakes, warns experts

Warmer weather means more active snakes in Mpumalanga, says tourism and parks agency for this South African province, which is home to the Kruger National Park as well as many gamefarms and nature reserves. Know how to avoid snake encounters and what not to do if bitten by a snake.

 

The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) issued a statement urging people to remain vigilant as temperatures climb, reminding the public that simple precautions can help prevent encounters and protect both people and wildlife.

According to MTPA spokesperson Simphiwe Shungube, seeing a snake can be alarming, but these reptiles play a vital natural role in maintaining the region’s ecological balance. Snakes should therefore be treated with caution and respect rather than hostility, the agency advises.

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HOW TO REDUCE THE RISK OF A SNAKEBITE

In the May 2018 edition of SA JAGTER/HUNTER outdoor activity instructor and biologist Paul Donovan said “prevention is better than cure”, and there are a number of things you can do to decrease your chances of being bitten:

1. If you spot a snake, leave it alone, and remain still. By nature, snakes will avoid humans if at all possible. Just let it go about its business. Snakes respond to movement, so if you remain still they do not perceive you as a threat. It is only when you move that they will strike. Be aware that some snakes feign death when antagonised, only to bite the inquisitive hand which attempts to pick them up. Oh, and a venomous snake that is actually dead can still inflict a fatal bite should you prick a finger on one of its fangs. So, dead or alive leave well alone!
2. Avoid stepping over logs or rocks if you cannot see where you are about to place your foot, because there could be a snake sheltering there. Instead stand on top of the log or rock and take a big stride forward to clear it. It is often said, if you are in a group, it is the second or third person who is most likely to be bitten, because the first alerts the snake and the second or third feels the wrath of its annoyance, so be aware of your surroundings at all times.
3. When crouching down, look to see where your knees are going to land.
4. If camping, wear sensible shoes around camp and be careful when picking up firewood.
5. When answering the call of nature, watch where you relieve yourself. Make sure if you have to squat down that you are not going to do anything on a snake that it would take exception to.

 

WHAT TO DO IF SOMEONE IS BITTEN BY A SNAKE

Snakebite treatments are full of myths. So, here is what you should NOT do:

1. Do not cut and suck the bite

The time-honoured procedure of cutting and sucking the bite is extremely dangerous, and a lot of medical studies have cast doubt on its effectiveness anyway. And, of course, the person doing the sucking runs the risk of exposure to infectious blood diseases.

2. Do not use a tourniquet

The idea behind tying a tourniquet tightly around the bitten limb is to limit the spread of venom. However, under normal circumstances you should NOT use it as a snake bite treatment. At the outset, the tourniquet might seem effective in ‘containing’ the venom in one area but you risk cutting off blood flow, starving the limb of oxygen thus killing it. There is also the risk of toxicshock syndrome, whereby, as the limb begins to break down, tox￾ins are released into the body as soon as the tourniquet is loos￾ened. The medical consensus is, don’t do it.

3. Do not use suction

There are many suction kits on the market which, when placed over the bitten area, are said to draw the venom out. Again, research has shown that these kits have little, if any, effect in removing venom from the bitten area, and can actually cause tissue damage.

4. Do not use potassium

I have heard of people tipping potassium permanganate on the bite and then igniting it in the belief that it will neutralise the venom. However, the only thing it will do is cause a serious burn!

5. Do not place ice or a cold pack on the bite

This has no effect on breaking down the venom, and may actually make the bite area worse.

The MTPA says in the unfortunate event of a snakebite, time is critical. Seek immediate medical attention by heading to the nearest hospital or medical facility.