Snakes

             If you fear snakes, it is probably because you are unfamiliar with them or you have wrong information about them. There is no need for you to fear snakes if you know . .

• Their habits.
• Habitats
• How to identify the dangerous kinds.
• Precautions to take to prevent snakebite.
• What actions to take in case of snakebite

    For a man wearing shoes and trousers and living in a camp, the danger of being bitten by a poisonous snake is small compared to the hazards of malaria, cholera, dysentery, or other diseases.

    Nearly all snakes avoid man if possible. Reportedly, however, a few--the king cobra of Southeast Asia, the bushmaster and tropical rattlesnake of South America, and the mamba of Africa--sometimes aggressively attack man, but even these snakes do so only occasionally and that too if you enter their territory. Otherwise most snakes get out of the way and are seldom seen.

Snake Bites

          Venomous snakes are responsible for 40,000 deaths every year around the world. Thats a huge number. Most of these are in devoloping countries because

WAYS TO AVOID SNAKEBITE

         Snakes are widely distributed. They are found in all tropical, subtropical, and most temperate regions. Some species of snakes have specialized glands that contain a toxic venom and long hollow fangs to inject their venom.

         Although venomous snakes use their venom to secure food, they can also use it for self-defense. Human accidents occur when you don't see or hear the snake, when you step on them, or when you walk too close to them.

Follow these simple rules to reduce the chance of accidental snakebite:

• Don't sleep next to brush, tall grass, large boulders, or trees. They provide hiding places for snakes. Place your sleeping bag in a clearing. Use mosquito netting tucked well under the bag. This netting should provide a good barrier.

• Don't put your hands into dark places, such as rock crevices, heavy brush, or hollow logs, without first investigating.

• Don't step over a fallen tree. Step on the log and look to see if there is a snake resting on the other side.

• Don't walk through heavy brush or tall grass without looking down. Look where you are walking.

• Don't pick up any snake unless you are absolutely positive it is not venomous.

• Don't pick up freshly killed snakes without first severing the head. The nervous system may still be active and a dead snake can deliver a bite.
  Lastly but not leastly, remember tha snakes are deadly only if you stop respecting. So, respect their existance and leave them alone.

  What if you get a bite ?

• Do not try the 'cut and suck method' which was the old method taught in schools and by survivalists. You'll most likely do more harm that good.
• Try to keep the victum calm.
• Immobilize the bitten body limb (with a splint etc) and try to keep it below the heart.
• Again, do not apply the 'cut and suck' techniques. Do not add ice, a tourniquet, alcohol or asprin and do not pour turpentine into the wound.
• If the snake is a 'neurotoxic snake' (cobras, Australian elapids, mambas, coral snakes) wrap the limb in a pressure bandage to localize the venom.
• Only if the snake is easily captured should it be brought in for identification. Do not risk a second bite - because the snake may not have envenomated the first go (20 to 40 percent of all snake bites are "dry" bites).
• Finally when at the hospital encourage them to call poison control for advice as many medical personel do not have experience treating snake bites.