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Another Hamburg revelation and Elapid keeping
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by Phobos on October 15, 2005
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I came upon a fellow, I've known form the show for about a year now. I was having a conversation with him about Antivenom and he asked about keeping his own supply. That's not the issue here, after a bit more probing I found out he lives about 45 minuts from a hospital, up a mountain, therefore transport to a hospital will not be so quick. Okay, Here's what set me off.... He had NO CLUE of the proper emergency first aid for and Elapid bite and this guy has at least 2 Black Mambas about 6 to 8 feet long!!
There is ABSOLUTLEY NO EXCUSE IN THE WORLD NOT TO KNOW BASIC ELAPID BITE FIRST AID if you keep them!!!!!
SO, for all that keep ELAPIDS here is the basics.
Al
First Aid for Elapid Snake Bites:
From this site: http://www.usyd.edu.au/anaes/venom/snakebite.html
Do NOT wash the area of the bite!
Stop lymphatic spread - bandage firmly, splint and immobilise!
The "pressure-immobilisation" technique is currently recommended by the Australian Resuscitation Council, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists.
The lymphatic system is responsible for systemic spread of most venoms. This can be reduced by the application of a firm bandage (as firm as you would put on a sprained ankle) over a folded pad placed over the bitten area. While firm, it should not be so tight that it stops blood flow to the limb or to congests the veins. Start bandaging directly over the bitten area, ensuing that the pressure over the bite is firm and even. If you have enough bandage you can extend towards more central parts of the body, to delay spread of any venom that has already started to move centrally. A pressure dressing should be applied even if the bite is on the victims trunk or torso.
Immobility is best attained by application of a splint or sling, using a bandage or whatever to hand to absolutely minimise all limb movement, reassurance and immobilisation (eg, putting the patient on a stretcher). Where possible, bring transportation to the patient (rather then vice versa). Don't allow the victim to walk or move a limb. Walking should be prevented.
The pressure-immobilisation approach is simple, safe and will not cause iatrogenic tissue damage (ie, from incision, injection, freezing or arterial torniquets - all of which are ineffective).
See the AVRU site for more details of bandaging techniques.
Bites to the head, neck, and back are a special problem - firm pressure should be applied locally if possible.
Removal of the bandage will be associated with rapid systemic spread. Hence ALWAYS wait until the patient is in a fully-equipped medical treatment area before bandage removal is attempted.
Do NOT cut or excise the area or apply an arterial torniquet! Both these measures are ineffective and may make the situation worse.
Joris Wijnker's Snakebite Productions has more information on envenomation and he can supply a suitable first aid kit and booklet.
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RE: Another Hamburg revelation and Elapid keeping
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by Rabies on October 16, 2005
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Just to add to Al's informative first aid, splinting is a MUST, its through muscle movement that the lymph sytem drains, a sling will not surfice. We all have snake hooks so once you have applied a pressure bandage, strap a hook of suitable length over the limb.
John
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RE: Another Hamburg revelation and Elapid keeping
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by psilocybe on October 16, 2005
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That guy is a walking Darwin Award waiting to happen. How one can keep an animal like D. polylepis and NOT have the slightest clue about what to do when something bad happens is beyond me! In addition not having a clue on what to do, he's isolated himself from getting any immediate medical attention! Ingenious! Unfortunatley, keepers like this are not uncommon, and are probably the majority of hot keepers in general...
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Actually, he's not.
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by MattHarris on October 17, 2005
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He's one of the more respectable keepers I know. From what he's described to me, he's got one of the better snake buildings in terms of design, security, etc.
MCH
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RE: Another Hamburg revelation and Elapid keeping
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by psilocybe on October 20, 2005
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Hi Matt,
Are you talking about the same guy as Al? Because if you are, I'd hate to know who some of the less respectable keepers you know are! If you keep venomous, not knowing what to do in the event of a bite of any venomous snake you keep, much less one as dangerous as D. polylepis is stupid, plain and simple. According to Al, the guy has isolated himself up a mountain far away from help, and doesn't have the slightest clue on what the immediate first aid measures he should perform are. Does he think that the paramedics responding will know how to treat a mamba bite? Do paramedics know about the PI bandage method for elapid bites? I highly doubt it. If what Al says is accurate, if and when this guy gets tagged, he will most likely die, unless he starts boning up on the appropriate medical literature QUICK. The fact that he doesn't know the basic first aid treatment for mamba bites also leads me to believe (speculatively) that he doesn't have a clue on where the nearest source of AV is.
Please tell me what makes this guy so respectable in your opinion.
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