SNAKES, SPIDERS AND SCORPIONS

It is very unlikley that you will be bitten by a snake or a spider, stung by a scorpion. These animals reside in the bush, no more or less than the quantity that live in say, Newlands forest, Cape Town. The majority do not possess toxic venom to humans, nevertheless there are a few (to be mentioned) that will require hospital treatement.

In the unlikley event that someone has been bitten or stung try to take the following steps:

identify the species (if possible) calm down and minimise body movements be transported to Riversdale Hospital, or the cities of George or Mossel Bay if the

situation is more serious. See Medical Emegencies for important details Poisons Information +27 (0) 21 931 6129

Regarding Snakes Bites you should NEVER

cut into the bite site. Snake experts warn that doing this may cause further damage and increase the risk of infection

suction any venom from the wound. The outcome is negligible but there is a risk of the venom entering via the mouth.

apply a pressure bandage if you don’t know what snake it is. Some snake bites because extreme swelling and applying a pressure bandage can do more harm than good. Only apply the pressure bandage to a Cobra and Mamba bite.

apply a tourniquet. 

Never do any of these acts described (indicated by a line through the words).

THE BOOMSLANG

Females – various colours of brown; Males – various colours of green

The boomslang is a timid snake, and bites generally occur only when people attempt to handle or catch the animal. When confronted and cornered, they inflate their necks and assume their striking "S"-shaped pose. Boomslange are unlikely to be a significant source of human fatalities throughout their distribution range. The boomslang has a highly potent venom - primarily a hemotoxin; it disables the blood clotting process and the victim may well die as a result of internal and external bleeding without the anti-venom.

SYMPTOMS: The venom has been observed to cause haemorrhage into tissues such as muscle and brain. Other signs and symptoms include headache, nausea, sleepiness and mental disorders. Because the venom is slow to act, symptoms may not be manifested until many hours after the bite. While this provides time for procuring the anti-venom, it also may lead victims to underestimate the seriousness of the bite. Snakes of any species may sometimes fail to inject venom when they bite, so after a few hours without any noticeable effects, victims of boomslang bites may wrongly believe that their injury is not serious.

In the unlikely event that someone is bitten by a boomslang, take the following steps:

Step 1> Keep the patient quiet and comfortably warm and avoid unnecessary movement.

Step 2> call an ambulance or drive the patient to the hospital (for antivenom and trauma care) keeping the patient immobilised and calm. Drive safely.

For professional advice call the 24-7 Poisons Information Line 021 931 6129

DO NOT APPLY A PRESSURE BANDAGE!    Do not use vasopressors (drugs which increase the blood pressure) because these will increase swelling at the bite site. 

THE PUFADDER

This snake, like all the others in this area, would like very much to get away from human beings, however it is notoriously slow; and has the habit of basking by footpaths and sitting quietly when approached. The Puff adder has a very quick strike with a potentially fatal venom if not treated carefully and timely. Do not try to engage, kill or capture. The snake is slow moving and can be moved away from danger by using a long object with an average level of skill and common sense, if absolutely necessary.

Poisoning Symptoms

The poison is virulently cytotoxic (cell-destroying), but slow acting. The bite is followed by immediate and severe pain, accompanied by alarmingly rapid swelling and bruising at the bite site.  Life-endangering effects such as pronounced shock do not normally appear until 12 to 24 hours after the bite.  Extensive cell damage can result in gangrene and may require the amputation of the affected limb if medical attention is not received soon enough.

In the unlikely event that someone is bitten by this a Puffadder, take the following steps:

Step 1> Keep the patient quiet and comfortably warm and avoid unnecessary movement.

Step 2> call an ambulance or drive the patient to the hospital (for antivenom and trauma care) keeping the patient immobilised and calm. Drive safely.

Option > call 24-7 Poisons Information 021 931 6129

DO NOT APPLY A PRESSURE BANDAGE!    Do not use vasopressors (drugs which increase the blood pressure) because these will increase swelling at the bite site. 

CAPE COBRA / Bruin Kapel

A large cobra with a colour ranging between yellow and brown. The snake is afraid of humans and will move away from a person at high speed. In the event that you come across this snake, keep absolutely still because the snake will look for an escape route. Do not engage this snake from any distance. The venom is extremely dangerous (neurotoxic) and fast acting. .

Treatment

1. Keep the patient quiet and calm but act more quickly compared to any other snake bite situation.

2. if available, apply a wide pressure bandage above the bite to slow down the spread of the venom. This technique must never been done with vipers and boomslang - only cobras and mambas (there are none in the area). If you do not know that this is a cobra bite – then leave the bite alone.

3. It is advisable to drive the patient to the hospital (for antivenom in the casualty / trauma care) unless you are confident of a prompt ambulance service. If possible, without compromising your road safety, try to make calls to the hospital to ensure preparation for arrival. The antivenom needs to be administered as soon as possible (in a shorter period compared to Puffadder and Boomslang bites), especially with children. A timely treatment of antivenom will bring achieve a full recovery so do not panic.

24-7 Poisons Information +27 (0) 21 931 6129

SPIDERS

In S.A. there are 2000+ identified spiders. They are afraid of people and will attempt to avoid people. The odds of being bitten by one of the few highly venomous spiders is very low.

The local inhabitants of Vermaaklikheid call a number of common, harmless spiders by the name “Huisvriend”. Huis” because it will get in the building (enters as a pinprick). “Vriend” –> is harmless. Feeding on insects including Mosquitos and Flies.

You will likely see them in the corners of the ceiling. Pls. open a window or door and use something to sweep the spider outside. If you kill this spider, you will not affect the ecology of the area! Their return is inevitable.

Precautions

Our View -> “hulle moet in hulle plek bly” (they must stay in their own houses!). Feel free to use a broom or equivalent tool to remove spiders from the buildings in whatever way you feel most comfortable in doing.

Keep the doors and windows of your Kliphuise closed. They will not suddenly enter the building when the door is open. They can enter when the building is open over an extended period of time.

Treatment

For button spiders -> patient should be taken to hospital immediately. Keep calm. A spider bite does not mean instant death – in most cases you only need

a painkiller, antihistamine and wound management. Children should be checked out by a doctor as soon as possible after a bite.

Try to catch the spider – this makes identification and treatment much easier.  Wash the bite site with soap and water. Apply an ice pack.  Wounds should be kept clean, and antiseptic cream applied regularly. All spider bite victims must go for a booster tetanus injection. If more severe symptoms appear, see a doctor immediately.

The Button Spider / Black Widow

Identified by the red hourglass on its round, black abdomen. Button spiders are found all over South Africa, and they usually reside in quiet, dark places. They rarely wander into houses, and most bites occur when the spider are disturbed in its hiding place. Button spiders have neurotoxic venom, which means that it attacks the central nervous system. Only female spiders have fangs large enough to pierce human skin. Bites are very painful and

Symptoms

- appear shortly after the bite- Sweating, raised blood pressure, muscle pain and cramps, pain and weakness in the

limbs, the face becomes contorted, flushed and sweaty with drooping eyelids and swollen lips. In severe cases the body will contort and shake uncontrollably

- Button spider bites are usually treated in hospital with anti-venom and patients are usually well enough to go home after 24-48 hours. The good news is that no deaths from button spiders have been recorded in the last 50 years.

SCORPIONS

The good news for all arachnophobes is that there is only one type of scorpion in South Africa that is really dangerous – the thick-tailed Parabuthus-genus.

It can grow up to 11cm long and colour ranges from yellowish to brown-black. This scorpion is found all over South Africa. You are unlikely to encounter this one.

Other scorpions include harmless types to the more venomous (but not lethal). The thick tail and small pincers = venomous. Scorpions with thick tails kill their prey with a venomous sting, while scorpions with a big pinchers catch their prey with it. (This does not mean that thin-tailed scorpions cannot sting – they can and it will hurt).

Precautions

- Keep the doors of your bedroom Kliphuise closed- Shake out the outdoor furniture before use. - Scorpions are nocturnal – so wear footwear at night. They are often seen when

collecting firewood and lifting rocks.

If a person is stung

Keep calm. Try to identify the scorpion – does it have a thick tail or thin tail? If the victim was stung by a thick-tailed scorpion, get some medical attention. When

in doubt – seek medical attention. Put ice or a cold compress on the sting site.

Give some paracetamol or aspirin for pain. Clean the wound and bandage. Victims must receive a tetanus shot to prevent infection.

Never

Try to suck the venom out Use a tourniquet Give the victim alcohol, since it will mask the symptoms of the poison Never administer anti-venom yourself – it must be done in hospital.