The SAGI Northern Province branch workshop held earlier this year focused on the safety of the surveyor and surveying personnel in the working environment. Snakes featured as one of the topics under discussion with Hencke Marais of HM Enviro Trading presenting a very practical course with live snakes. SAGI members were allowed to handle the non-venomous snakes such as the brown house snake and the boa-constrictor.
Marais explained how to identify the various South African snake families, their personalities, the symptoms of various snakebites and first aid treatment for snake bite. The snake handler demonstrated the personalities of the different snake families and dispelled various myths about certain snake families. He cautioned that snakes had to be approached carefully and pointed out that they react in fright and are not just lying about waiting to bite unwary human beings or animals.
Marais warned that a tourniquet to prevent the snake venom from being released in the bloodstream is extremely dangerous and could result in the loss of the affected limb. He also pointed out that opening the wound and trying to suck out the venom is a waste of time.
Snake venom acts fast and a victim must be treated without delay. It was stressed that it is important to remain calm (both the victim and the person assisting) and to get the victim to a hospital as quickly as possible. Basic first aid/CPR knowledge will save almost all snake victims. Even in the case of a serious black mamba bite, administration of CPR can help keep the snake bite victim alive.Application of a crepe bandage to the entire limb will also help to slow down the venom spread.
The different kinds of venom and their effects were explained to the audience:
Neurotoxic: this venom attacks the central nervous system and starts to affect movement, breathing, swallowing, speech and sight. (E.g. cobras, mambas and berg adders.)
Haematoxic: this venom affects the blood, using up the clotting factors so that the blood no longer coagulates and there is extensive blood loss into the tissues. (E.g. boomslang and twig snakes.)
Cytotoxic: this venom attacks the body cells of tissues, and a bite is extremely painful, with much swelling and marked symptoms of shock. (E.g. adder, spitting cobras and rinkhals.)
Myotoxic: this venom attacks the muscles and in some cases can lead to death from kidney and heart failure. (E.g. yellow-bellied sea snakes.)
Although it can be useful to identify the specific snake responsible for a bite, time should not be wasted in trying to catch the snake as treatment of snake bites is usually based on the patient’s symptoms and there are only two types of anti-venom medication.Surveyors need to take note that wearing protective clothing such as boots and long trousers can help prevent a serious snake bite.
Contact Jalette Steynberg, Secretariat Services, SAGI Northern Branch, Tel 012 333-9901, jalettes@icon.co.za