World Snake Day: How to handle, treat snakebite

WORLD | SNAKE DAY | SNAKEBITE

It's world snake day today and in Uganda, a lot of bad information still roams the minds of Ugandans about snakes.

Snakes are important in our ecosystem but also dangerous if dealt with in the wrong manner.

When one is bitten by a snake, we call it envenomation because snakes have venom as their weapon to fight against prey and also to help in digestion.

The most effective and up-to-date snake bite kits are the car key and a phone.

The phone is to alert the hospital to prepare for the emergency and the car is to drive to the hospital.

Jamesoni mama (Locally called temankima)

The following is a list of don'ts in case of snakebite:

• Do not hang around the snake trying to kill or restrain it, but a quick photo is of good help.
• Do not cut or suck the venom out because this only damages tissues which are already traumatized.
• Do not apply heat because this will circulate venom quickly.
• Do not use “extractor” products that aim to remove venom.
• Do not consume food or alcohol because it thins blood allowing toxins to circulate in the body.

Here are the dos considered during a snakebite:

• Stay calm so that the elevated heart rate speeds up the venom circulation.
• Remove all tight things around the body like rings or other items that may cut into the body.

Gaboon viper (Locally called 'salambwa kitwe)

• When it’s a viper bite (salambwa), position the bite above heart level and if it's an elapid like a cobra (enswera) and mamba (Temankima) lower the bite position below heart level.
• Proceed quickly to the hospital for antivenom.

Status of antivenom in Ugandan Hospitals

Most hospitals in Uganda lack antivenom and even don’t know how to administer it to the patients.

Above all, the anti-venom in Uganda is not effective because most of it is made based on Indian snakes which are not found in Uganda hence many people die of snakebites.

Mukasa advised snakebite victims to always, in case of emergencies to run to Nsambya Hospital, Entebbe Grade B Hospital or contact medical consultant Josephine Nabachwa on 0754490857/0773550481.

In case of an emergency from a snakebite, one needs to run to Nsambya hospital, Entebbe Grade B hospital or one can contact our medical consultant Josephine Nabachwa on 0754490857/0773550481.

These hospitals above at least have got the right recommended antivenom which differs from India's make as seen below;

All in all, as Herp Fauna Foundation Uganda we believe that proper wildlife education will help us to do away with the myths and fears surrounding these valuable reptiles of our ecosystem.

Emmanuel Mukasa 

Herp Fauna Foundation Uganda