On the occasion of the passer-by in Volos, where an unfortunate woman was bitten by a snake while swimming in the sea, in Sutrali Agrias, we recall the information of WWF Greece about vipers and snakes in general in Greece, as well as instructions on what to do if you meet them and if they bite you.
Read also: Volos: A 40-year-old woman was bitten by a snake in the sea
According to the environmental organization, detailed instructions and all snakes as well as the other reptiles of Greece are registered on the herpetological site herpetofauna.gr.
herpetofauna.gr.
The snakes that have poison in our country are the pit viper, the rattlesnake and the vipers. The first two have venom in their back teeth so it is very difficult to bite in a way that would inject venom into a human. Regarding vipers, there are five species that exist in Greece, but only one, Vipera ammodytes, spreads throughout the country.
In particular, vipers are slow snakes and if they feel threatened they stay still so as not to be noticed and then move away as quickly as possible to avoid danger. If someone gets close enough they begin to hiss loudly (hissing) and curl up in a defensive position, while they are ready to use their last defense, the bite, if they are approached at a distance of less than half a meter. Vipers will never attack unless someone grabs them or comes close to them, unless they feel a direct threat to their life. But even in this case they are more likely to bite “dry”, i.e. without injection of venom, as a warning only.
According to the WWF, there is no way to be sure that we have removed snakes from our premises forever. But we can focus on what attracts them, taking the necessary steps to avoid them and protect ourselves. The most common reasons that a snake will find itself inside our house or in another closed space are either because it has discovered a source of food, or because it wants to find a hiding place to rest.
As the organization points out, due to the composition of snake venom in Greece, after a poisonous bite we have more than enough time to visit a hospital in time for first aid. An exception is the case of a bite on the neck or head, due to the fact that during the formation of swelling, an obstruction of the respiratory tract may be caused, as is the case of an anaphylactic reaction, as happened to the woman in Thessaloniki.
Instructions on what you can do so that snakes are not attracted to your home, but also how to react if you see a snake in your area, you can find here.
What to do in case of snake bite
Keep your cool. This can be helped by knowing that: vipers in Greece do not have such a strong venom that can kill a person in a very short time, and that their venom has a cellulolytic and not a neurotoxic effect like e.g. the venom of the cobra. This means that there is time for transport to a hospital (it takes some 24 hours without hospitalization for someone to die after a viper bite in Greece).
In addition, panic increases the likelihood of a wrong reaction that will aggravate the situation and the heart rate, which in turn accelerates the circulation of the poison, increases the rate of metabolism and the progression of symptoms.
Check the bite: the bite of the viper leaves a double wound with two “parallel” characteristic marks. However, this is more for the expert scientists and the well-informed, so even if you don’t see the signs don’t take any chances, just follow the step-by-step process.
- Remove any object or clothing that could be in contact with the bite area while it is swelling (it will be anyway).
- Keep the bitten limb as still as possible and lower than the level of the heart. Don’t start running in search of help. Call for help and wait for them to arrive or follow the instructions you will be given.
- Do not touch the bite site, do not cut or tear the skin around it, and do not under any circumstances attempt to inhale the venom.
- Do not apply pressure to the bite area, do not put ice on the bite, do not bandage the bitten limb, do not take (and do not give) painkillers – with the exception of paracetamol -, do not use alcohol.
- Refer to a hospital structure, having observed all of the above. Keep in mind that these instructions are the same for the case where your pet is the victim of the bite: you should try to follow them and take it to a veterinarian.
See also: Snake bite: Do’s and don’ts
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