Last weekend, two people from the Sharon area were beaten by vipers and evacuated to hospitals in a difficult and unstable condition.
These cases join many cases of snake bites in Israel every year, during the hot summer months, when the snakes reach peak activity during which they also stay on the outskirts of cities.
The question arises what can be done to avoid biting a snake and what should be done if it has occurred.
To do this, we turned to Dr. Boaz Shaham, a zoologist and biologist who specializes in reptiles and the entry of animals into the urban space to explain it to us.
Here you have to act according to steps: prevention, encounter with a snake and what to do in the event of a bite. "
prevention
"Snakes are mostly active at night. The first rule is that every area you walk around will be lit and you will see what you are doing or you are stepping on or putting your hands up. Therefore, put strong lighting in your places of activity and do not walk or put your hand in dark places," warns Shaham.
"It is better that you work during the day, the snake is more active at night and not during the day, and at night - put on lighting"
"Also in places with shrubs or grass we have to weed everything, both in private homes and in public areas" he continued.
"Beyond that, if you need to clear a warehouse, a pruner, objects in a pile together, you should be afraid of a snake hiding. The snakes love these places and especially the viper snake that is found from Be'er Sheva to the north.
"In addition, take care of the clothing. Put on high shoes and full clothing when you work in a place that is prone to snakes, it is hot, it is not pleasant but it saves lives because the chances of direct hit decrease. Contact with a snake in the area "
"If you come across a snake, do not touch or approach it, call a qualified person, Photo: Ancho Gush - Ginny
An encounter with a snake
"If you see a snake, cut off contact" Dr. Dr. "Do not touch or approach the animal, call a person authorized to evacuate it and do not try to raise a head in front of such a dangerous animal."
striking
Unfortunately even with the precautions there are sometimes hops.
This often happens to people who run in the park or in the wild, when they simply accidentally step on the snake or accidentally reach its vicinity.
Shaham states that in such situations: "First, call MDA and call for help.
This is the most initial and important thing.
Then, one has to calm the traction, a fast heart rate only spreads more the venom in the body.
The retracted limb should be fixed and the retracted body carried on a stretcher so that it does not run or exercise.
"Beyond that, do not make blockers of any kind, blocking the venom only causes greater damage to the extracted organ. Also do not suck the venom, do not make an incision or whatever is shown in the films and also do not put alcohol to disinfect the place because it dilates blood vessels and the venom moves "So faster. Do not give the mumps painkillers. The moth needs to get to the hospital when the effect of the ace is not masked but visible, it is very important for doctors to know exactly what the venom does to the moth."
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