Snake bite? Composure is the mantra to recover Unharmed

TechnoparkToday.com>>  Mantra to recover safely from a snake bite is to remain cool and composed, reminds a team of experienced snake rescuers led by Babu Palalayam. While making a session titled, ‘Introduction to Snakes’, at Centre for Innovation in Science and Social Action (CISSA), Mr. Babu added that ‘unless you send a threatening note, a snake, how much venomous it is, won’t bite you’. Panicking would only increase heartbeat enabling faster spreading of the venom. There had not been any knowledge of a snake chasing one and biting, he added. The programme was organized by Prakruthi, a group of techies from Technopark, who use their free hours for nature loving and organic farming. Lal Sagar from Ayurveda Centre, Poojappura; and Arun were among the demonstrators. Among a total of 276 snake species in India, only 62 are venomous; whereas in Kerala, it is just five.

A group of all age groups watched with awe as Mr. Babu and his team opened sacks and showed snakes one after the other. Many commonly prevailing misconceptions were unravelled by the team well known for their rescue efforts saving not only snakes, but also crocodiles.  They showed a non venomous wolf snake (Churutta) and highly venomous Indian Krait (Ettadi Veeran) together to teach how one could easily distinguish them even as similarities are more. At first sight, both may resemble, but the head of wolf snake is long whereas that of Krait is round. Also the rings of a wolf snake begin very near its neck whereas for krait, it is a couple of inches away from neck. Don’t forget that snakes are friends of farmers and city dwellers, in efficiently controlling the population of rats that loot farm produced in the villages and dig and destroy basements of city homes, reminded the experts.

Making extra lesions near the bite wound enabling contaminated blood to flow out and then tying a tight knot to stop blood flow have become an old story. Instead, a modestly tight bandage around the wound and taking the victim to the nearest clinic is the first and foremost thing to do. Then the clinic refers the patient to the Medical College only where the anti-venoms are available. At hospital, if the patient reaches well on time, don’t expect that doctors will make an emergency check up. Instead, they will keep the patient for strict observation until it is determines whether the venom has created neurotic or haematic disorder.

“Now the system has improved and majority of snake bite victims are cured without any harm to their health”, Mr. Babu said.   Children and elders got a chance to touch for the first time, different types of snakes from wolf snake to cobra; and rat snake to python. Some of them got a wolf snake wound around their necks. While concluding the demonstration, a point was once again reiterated: next time when you see a snake or receive its bite, don’t be nervous, but be cool and composed.

General Secretary of CISSA, Dr. C. Suresh Kumar explained a doctor’s experience of managing snake bite cases. Head (Publication) Sivakumar K.P., President of Prakruthi, Biju Sundaran and Bipin Dhanadevan spoke. Director (Projects) Dr. P.G. Rajendran gave mementos to the presenters.

TechnoparkToday.com