There are plenty of snakes in Thailand and many species are venomous. There are a variety of cobras and kraits and the deadly Russells Viper just to name a few. So far we have been very lucky and nobody has been bitten on the hash trail yet.
The most important safety tip regarding snake bite is to get professional medical attention as soon as possible. Bangkok Hospital, San Paulo Hospital and the Thai Government Hospital in Hua Hin all stock anti-venom as does the Government Hospital in Cha Am. Petcharat Hospital and the Government Hospital in Petchburi are also prepared to treat snake bite.
In order for the medical center to determine what type of anti-venom to administer to the snake bite victim, an identification of the type of snake is essential. So take the snake with you when you go for help. Or, take a photo of the snake. At least try to have a person along who can identify the snake from a photo provided by the hospital.
Here is some info provided by one of our members who picked up a Malaysian Pit Viper in the tradition of Steve Irwin and lives to tell about it: (From Mysterry Man, AKA Terry Burge)
“There had been the same snake (Malayan Pit Viper) in my garden for a few months and each time I would throw a towel over it and carry it to the perimeter wall where it would be dropped to the other side, the humane person I am. One night we got back from dinner and there it was again. This time I decided to pick it up but before there was a chance the thing turned and bit me. So would I if I were the snake! I washed it under the tap and did what Indiana Jones would have done and tried to suck the venom out. Wrong in both cases as this adds to infection. After a few minutes my finger was turning blue. After 10 minutes the hand started to swell. Time to find a hospitial! Checked in to Bangkok Hospital. One night in intensive care with blood tests every six hours. One more night there just to make sure there was no further reaction to the bite. Over the next couple of weeks I went back for redressing of the wound. There was no healing going on just more dead skin being cut out. I then had a skin graft which also died. The tipping point in the healing was when my girlfriend and I went to the local temple for a buddha day. One of the people there recommended a man who dealt with snake bites. After some hocus pocus he gave me something to drink with herbs in it. Within a week it had nearly cleared up. Another week and it was back to looking like a finger again. Now 10 months on I have numbness around the site of the bite, a slightly reduced range of movement at the nearest joint and a little pain when I bend it fully. After doing some research I am lucky it was not a fully grown one which could have been lethal.We think we found it a few months later as the gardener killed one in the garden. This was also a Malayan Pit Viper. Still not safe as there was a little snake around our carport just last month. I will not be picking that one up!!!!! Hope this is useful. Mysterry Man”
The following important info was provided by one of our hashers from Down Under: (Though the info was developed down under, it is applicable here and just about everywhere) Health Services > Queensland Poisons Information Centre
Pressure Immobilisation Technique
The pressure-immobilisation first aid technique was developed in the 1970's by Professor Struan Sutherland. Its purpose is to retard the movement of venom from the bite site into the circulation, thus "buying time" for the patient to reach medical care. Research with snake venom has shown that very little venom reaches the blood stream if firm pressure is applied over the bitten area and the limb is immobilised. Pressure-immobilisation was initially developed to treat snakebite, but it is also applicable to bites and stings by some other venomous creatures. It is currently recommended for most life threatening venomous bites and stings in Australia.
Pressure-immobilisation is recommended for:
Additional Info regarding snakes and snake bite coming soon.
If you have half a mind to join the hash, that’s all it takes. Remember though that you hash at your own risk.
The most important safety tip regarding snake bite is to get professional medical attention as soon as possible. Bangkok Hospital, San Paulo Hospital and the Thai Government Hospital in Hua Hin all stock anti-venom as does the Government Hospital in Cha Am. Petcharat Hospital and the Government Hospital in Petchburi are also prepared to treat snake bite.
In order for the medical center to determine what type of anti-venom to administer to the snake bite victim, an identification of the type of snake is essential. So take the snake with you when you go for help. Or, take a photo of the snake. At least try to have a person along who can identify the snake from a photo provided by the hospital.
Here is some info provided by one of our members who picked up a Malaysian Pit Viper in the tradition of Steve Irwin and lives to tell about it: (From Mysterry Man, AKA Terry Burge)
“There had been the same snake (Malayan Pit Viper) in my garden for a few months and each time I would throw a towel over it and carry it to the perimeter wall where it would be dropped to the other side, the humane person I am. One night we got back from dinner and there it was again. This time I decided to pick it up but before there was a chance the thing turned and bit me. So would I if I were the snake! I washed it under the tap and did what Indiana Jones would have done and tried to suck the venom out. Wrong in both cases as this adds to infection. After a few minutes my finger was turning blue. After 10 minutes the hand started to swell. Time to find a hospitial! Checked in to Bangkok Hospital. One night in intensive care with blood tests every six hours. One more night there just to make sure there was no further reaction to the bite. Over the next couple of weeks I went back for redressing of the wound. There was no healing going on just more dead skin being cut out. I then had a skin graft which also died. The tipping point in the healing was when my girlfriend and I went to the local temple for a buddha day. One of the people there recommended a man who dealt with snake bites. After some hocus pocus he gave me something to drink with herbs in it. Within a week it had nearly cleared up. Another week and it was back to looking like a finger again. Now 10 months on I have numbness around the site of the bite, a slightly reduced range of movement at the nearest joint and a little pain when I bend it fully. After doing some research I am lucky it was not a fully grown one which could have been lethal.We think we found it a few months later as the gardener killed one in the garden. This was also a Malayan Pit Viper. Still not safe as there was a little snake around our carport just last month. I will not be picking that one up!!!!! Hope this is useful. Mysterry Man”
The following important info was provided by one of our hashers from Down Under: (Though the info was developed down under, it is applicable here and just about everywhere) Health Services > Queensland Poisons Information Centre
Pressure Immobilisation Technique
The pressure-immobilisation first aid technique was developed in the 1970's by Professor Struan Sutherland. Its purpose is to retard the movement of venom from the bite site into the circulation, thus "buying time" for the patient to reach medical care. Research with snake venom has shown that very little venom reaches the blood stream if firm pressure is applied over the bitten area and the limb is immobilised. Pressure-immobilisation was initially developed to treat snakebite, but it is also applicable to bites and stings by some other venomous creatures. It is currently recommended for most life threatening venomous bites and stings in Australia.
Pressure-immobilisation is recommended for:
- all species of Australian snakes, including sea snakes
- funnel web spiders
- bee, wasp and ant stings in allergic individuals
- blue ringed octopus
- cone shell stings
- spider bites other than from a funnel web spider
- jelly fish stings
- stonefish and other fish stings
- bee, wasp and ant stings in non-allergic individuals
- bites by scorpions, centipedes, beetles
- Call 000 for an ambulance
- Apply a broad pressure bandage over the bite site as soon as possible. Crepe bandages are ideal, but any flexible material may be used. Clothing, towels etc may be torn into strips. Panty hose have been successfully used.
- Do not take clothing off as the movement of doing so will promote the movement of venom into the blood stream. Keep the patient (and the bitten or stung limb) still.
- Bandage upwards from the lower portion of the bitten or stung limb. Even though a little venom may be squeezed upwards, the bandage will be more comfortable, and therefore can be left in place for longer if required.
- The bandage should be as tight as you would apply to a sprained ankle.
- Extend the bandage as high as possible up the limb.
- Apply a splint to the leg. Any rigid object may be used as a splint. e.g. spade, piece of wood or tree branch, rolled up newspapers etc.
- Bind it firmly to as much of the leg as possible.
- Keep the patient still. Lie the patient down to prevent walking or moving around. Have the patient taken immediately by ambulance to the emergency department of the nearest hospital.
- Call 000 for an ambulance
- Bandage as much of the arm as possible, starting at the fingers
- Use a splint to the elbow
- Use a sling to immobilise the arm
- Keep the patient still. Lie the patient down to prevent walking or moving around. Have the patient taken immediately by ambulance to the emergency department of the nearest hospital.
- Call 000 for an ambulance
- If possible apply firm pressure over the bitten or stung area. Do not restrict chest movement. Keep the patient still. Have the patient taken immediately by ambulance to the emergency department of the nearest hospital.
- Call 000 for an ambulance
- No first aid for bitten or stung area. Keep the patient still. Have the patient taken immediately by ambulance to the emergency department of the nearest hospital.
- Research stresses the importance of keeping the patient still. This includes all the limbs.
- Do NOT cut or excise the bitten or stung area
- Do NOT apply an arterial tourniquet. (Arterial tourniquets, which cut off the circulation to the limb, are potentially dangerous, and are no longer recommended for any type of bite or sting in Australia.)
- Do NOT wash the bitten or stung area. The type of snake involved may be identified by the detection of venom on the skin.
- Note: Even if the bitten or stung person is ill when first seen, the application of pressure-immobilisation first aid may prevent further absorption of venom from the bite or sting site during transport to hospital.
- If the bandages and splint have been applied correctly, they will be comfortable and may be left on for several hours. They should not be taken off until the patient has reached medical care.
- The treating doctor will decide when to remove the bandages. If a significant amount of venom has been injected, it may move into the blood stream very quickly when the bandages are removed. They should be left in position until appropriate antivenom and resuscitation equipment has been assembled.
- Bandages may be quickly reapplied if clinical deterioration occurs, and left on until antivenom therapy has been effective.
Additional Info regarding snakes and snake bite coming soon.
If you have half a mind to join the hash, that’s all it takes. Remember though that you hash at your own risk.
RSS Feed