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The type of poison, and the effects on the person bitten depend on the species of snake, and the size and general health of the person.

The types of snakes which can cause problems in South Africa are:

• Adders: Adder poison, or venom, causes local tissue death. This results in massive local swelling and a lot of pain.
• Cobras and mambas: These snakes have venom which causes muscle paralysis, which means that the person cannot breath, and their heart cannot pump. The poison usually takes effect within 30 minutes to one hour.
• Boomslang: This is a rare bite. The venom will cause severe generalised bleeding within 48 hours.

Signs
Look for bite marks on the skin.

Get help immediately if:
You have been bitten by a snake. Always seek medical attention, preferably in the emergency department of your nearest hospital.

Home treatment

• Cutting or sucking the wound, or using alternative remedies, are useless.
• If a snake spits into your eyes, wash your eyes with large amounts of water, preferably by holding their head under a running tap. Do this before going to hospital, since it will get rid of most of the poison. Once in hospital, your eyes will be washed further, often with diluted anti-venom.
• General first aid measures include lying the person down and immobilising the part of the body which has been bitten. Pressure should be applied at the site of the bite.

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