During the 30th anniversary of Teknival, in Indre, people were injured by viper bites. Here is what to do and what to avoid after such incidents.
- During the Teknival, which took place in Indre, two people were bitten by a viper.
- Each year, 5.4 million snakebites, resulting in 1.8 to 2.7 million cases of envenoming, are recorded.
- “About half the time, the venomous snake does not inject its venom when it bites”, according to Health Insurance.
“Yesterday (i.e. Friday, May 29), two participants were bitten by vipers” on the land where the Teknival takes place, in Villegongis near Châteauroux. This was reported by the Indre prefecture in a press release. His message was quickly relayed and an important medical device was also deployed. These injuries, which constitute a public health problem, are often neglected, particularly in countries in the tropics and subtropics. According to the World Health Organization (WHO)approximately 5.4 million snakebites, leading to 1.8 to 2.7 million cases of envenoming, are recorded each year.
Snake bite: is it always serious?
To assess the seriousness of the injury, it is necessary to know if the person was bitten by a non-venomous snake or a venomous viper. According health insurance, a non-venomous snake has a round head, a single line of scales between the eye and the mouth, round pupils and small teeth. As for the poisonous viper, it has a triangular head, several rows of scales between the eye and the mouth, vertically slit pupils, an upturned snout and a hooked jaw.
“About half the time, the poisonous snake does not inject its venom when it bites. In this case, we speak of a dry bite: it only causes local symptoms. In the event of injection of venom, we speak of envenomation; general symptoms appear and their importance depends on the dose of venom present in the body. Most often, the symptoms remain mild except in the case of allergy to the venom”, says health insurance.
What signs should you look for in the event of a snakebite?
When the affected victim has been bitten by a poisonous snake and venom has been injected, they show bite marks in the form of colons, sharp pains, swelling and redness at the bite site. This reaction may extend over part or all of the affected limb. After being bitten, digestive (nausea, diarrhea, etc.), cardiovascular (malaise, drop in blood pressure, etc.) and respiratory symptoms can also occur. If the injured person is allergic to snake venom, they may suffer from anaphylactic shock.
Snakebite: what are the gestures to adopt and those to avoid?
In its press release, the Indre prefecture recalls that in the event of a snakebite, it is advisable to call for help, not to move and to immobilize the affected limb by raising it slightly, because agitation favors the spread of venom. Another tip: “promptly remove rings, bracelets, tight shoes and anything that can cause compression.”
Contrary to what some people may think, sucking the bite, incising or applying a tourniquet is strongly discouraged, as this can cause serious injury. You should also not put ice or ointment on the wound. And last advice, but it is essential: “Be careful, do not give anti-inflammatories or aspirin which increase the risk of bleeding”specifies the health insurance.