The six most venomous snakes in the Western Cape are the Cape Cobra, Puff Adder, Berg Adder, Boomslang, Rinkhals & Black Spitting Cobra.
Knowing what to do after being bitten by a snake can, literally, save your life.
The DO's:
- Stay calm
- Call emergency services immediately to evaluate the situation
- Take off constricting items from the area like rings and watches
- Keep the affected area positioned above heart level
- Go to the emergency room as soon as possible
The DONT's:
- Don't apply a constrictive bandage or tourniquet
- Avoid ice - it can cause local tissue damage
- Don't apply heat
- Don't attempt to such the venom out
- Don't cut the affected area
- Don't use a commercially available extraction device
- Don't use electrical therapy
- Don't apply any ointment or lotion
