OUTLINE


 Introduction
 Incidence of snake bites
 Types of snakes
 Signs and symptoms of snake bites
 First aid management of snake bites
 Reducing the incidence of snake bites at the work
site
 Summary
 OBJECTIVES OF THIS
PRESENTATION

 Audience should be familiar with the common types
of snake bites within their working environments
and communities.

 Identify signs and symptoms of envenomation

 Give first aid management to victims of snake bites.

 Institute measures to reduce the incidence of snake

bites within their work environment
 Introduction

Definition of terms

 Venom: A poison wielded by an animal usually

injected into an enemy or prey by biting or stinging.

 Anti-venom/antivenin: an antitoxin for treating bites

from venomous animals such as snakes and spiders.

 Envenomation: The process of poisoning by a venom

 Introduction continued

 Snake bites are bites from either a poisonous or non
poisonous snakes on any part of the body. Most non
poisonous snake bites may still inflict painful bites
and cause local swelling.

 Examples of common non poisonous snakes include;

pythons, garter snakes, king snakes, boa constrictors
etc, while most poisonous snakes belong to the cobra
and viper family with the pit viper (Crotalidae)
accounting for the majority of snake bites. Others are
the cobra and water snakes.
Examples of non venomous
snakes

Garter snake King Snake

Examples of non venomous snakes

Boa Constrictor Python

Examples of venomous snakes

Cobra Pit Viper snake

 Incidence of snake bites

 The most common snake bites resulting in envenomation
in Africa is caused by cobras and vipers.
 Venomous (poisonous) snakes cause 7000 to 8000 bites in
the United States each year and result in 10 to 15 deaths
(Hoyt & Selfridge-Thomas, 2007).
 Children between 1 and 9 years of age are the most likely
victims.
 The greatest number of bites occurs during the evening
hours within the rainy and harmattan seasons.
 20-25% of snake bites results in envenomation.
 Signs and symptoms of snake bites

Signs
 Hypotension
 Shock
 Impaired consciousness
 Edema
 Seizures
 Ecchymosis
 Spontaneous systemic bleeding from bite site
 Dark urine/Haematuria
 Paralysis
 Ptosis/opthalmoplegia,
 slurred speech
 Signs and symptoms of snake bites

Symtoms
 Pain
 Headache
 Muscle ache
 Nausea
 Numbness
 A metallic taste in the mouth
 First aid Management

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU ARE BITTEN

 Call for help while remaining still.

 Try to identify type of snake involved.
 Remove constricting clothes or rings
 Ensure that site of injury is always below the level of
the heart.
 Do not apply Ice or any constrictive material.
 First aid Management

WHAT TO DO WHEN SOMEONE IS BITTEN
 Immobilize the affected limb noting that the more it
is moved, the faster the poison spreads.
 Remove constrictive items like clothings, rings, etc
around injured site.
 Carry the person on a stretcher or improvise and tie
the limb to a straight piece of wood and quickly
transport to the nearest hospital.
 Keep the injured site covered with a clean material.
 First aid Management

 Take note of the type of snake involved either by
taking pictures and noting the sequence of events
leading to the bite.
 Do not attempt to suck or make any incisions at the
site of the bite.
 Reducing the incidence of snake
bites

 Environments with holes and loose spaces created by
woods, blocks etc. are usually conducive for snakes
to thrive. The creation of these environments should
be avoided.
 Cobras and vipers are the most common venomous
snakes within our environments causing injuries
within the rainy seasons.
 Reducing the incidence of snake
bites

 Care should be taken when operating during
evening hours. Proper lighting of all construction
sites and the construction of walls helps reduce the
incidence of snake bites at the works site.
 Children should not be left unattended to, especially
around bushy areas.
 Summary

 All snake bites are treated as medical emergencies
and as such prompt action is required on the part of
both victims and colleagues to reduce mortalities.
 Always transport all snake bite victims to the
hospital as the rate of fatality is usually very high.
 Identification of the type of snakes involved is key to
proper treatment.
 

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