In Germany it is extremely rare for people to encounter a snake - and reports of snake bites are even rarer.
But what do you do if you do get attacked?
They divide the population and trigger pure fascination in some, while others want to run away in panic at the sight of them.
Snakes are reptiles that - even if they are rarely seen - also occur in Germany.
There are seven species in this country and yet they are rarely seen.
But when it happens and a person is bitten, many do not know how to react.
That is why
echo24.de
* has summarized what to
watch out
for in the event of a snakebite.
Correct behavior after a snakebite: which rules to follow
If you are bitten by a snake, it is extremely important to first know what species it is.
In Germany, for example, there are two domestic venomous snakes.
If you are caught by an adder or an aspis viper, symptoms of poisoning can occur, as recently with a 12-year-old girl who was bitten in the Höllengebirge in Austria *.
How do you distinguish German venomous snakes from non-poisonous specimens?
There are three important characteristics as a guide for assessing whether the animal encountered is a poisonous snake or not. First of all, one should check whether the snake has a triangular head. If so, it is probably a viper. Most of these are poisonous. In addition, venomous snakes often have vertical eye slits, while nontoxic snakes usually have round pupils. But according toheiles-reisen.eu you shouldn't rely too much on this rule, but always ask an expert for advice. Because there are exceptions.
But even if the snake looks nontoxic based on its external characteristics: One should never be too sure.
The
netdoktor.de
portal
recommends bringing the snake to the emergency room if it was killed in the course of the attack.
However, only when there is really no longer any danger - but be careful: even severed snake heads can still bite reflexively.
Therefore, according to the
Ärzte Zeitung, it is
usually helpful to photograph the responsible animal.
Correct behavior after a snakebite: what not to do under any circumstances
The most important thing about a snakebite, however, is what not to do.
Because, for example, the bite of the adder can be extremely dangerous * for humans.
But binding the affected extremities - as is often shown in films - unfortunately usually leads to the poison spreading quickly in the body.
That would be exactly what you actually wanted to avoid.
It is just as dangerous to cool or warm the bite wound.
In addition, according to
netdoktor.de
, you should
n't try to suck out the poison or even burn it out.
Snake antisera you have brought with you should also not be used yourself.
Instead, it helps very well if, as a companion, you try to calm the bitten person down and then keep them physically calm.
Because both fear and movement ensure that snake venom spreads faster in the body.
In any case, you should treat the wound and dial the emergency number as soon as possible, because every snakebite is an emergency.
In most cases, the risk cannot be assessed on site.
Snakebite - what now?
- How to prevent a bite in advance
Still, in most cases, even if a snake is bitten, there is nothing to worry about.
Because every second one is a so-called "dry bite".
This means that the snake did not inject any poison at all.
According to the
Ärzte Zeitung,
however
, you cannot recognize this as a layperson
.
That is why it is all the more important to call the emergency services - or, if that is not possible, to drive to the emergency room.
+
The adder is one of two venomous snakes in Germany.
How do you behave if you have been bitten?
(Symbol image)
© Daniel Karmann / DPA
By the way, to avoid getting bitten by a snake in the first place, a few simple tips will help.
First and foremost, you should always wear sturdy, high-quality footwear on excursions into nature, because, according to the
Tropical Institute
, snakes
usually attack the ankles.
Special gaiters can therefore offer additional protection, while long pants are not bite-proof.
A walking stick is also helpful.
Because it warns the snakes with the shock and gives them the opportunity to flee.
Under no circumstances should one attempt to catch or even touch a snake.
*
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is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.
List of rubric lists: © Daniel Karmann / DPA
