African snake identification App

[Boela]

I came across this very handy App, which you can download for free, and would I like to share it with anyone who is planning to venture off the beaten track. I have personally been in situations where hunters were bitten / stung and this App would have been very handy at the time.

This App allows the user to not only identify Snakes, Spiders and Scorpions, but it will give you guidelines as to what to do after someone who has been bitten / stung.

It also provides you with a very handy link that you can log into once you reach your destination, and will it bring up a comprehensive list of snake species that you are likely to encounter within a 50km radius of where you are.

A link will provide you with the emergency phone numbers to the closest hospital in your area and which medical treatment should administered if necessary.

If you are able to photograph the critter, you can request an ID which will be emailed to a administrator. You will then be contacted by one of the administrators who will ID the snake for you, and give you further advice should it be required.

Please visit www.africansnakebiteinstitute.com for the App's link details.

*I am not affiliated to African Snakebite Institution, nor do I represent them. I have however been given permission to share the link.

Please take the time to visit their website, it might just save a life.

 

[Nyati]

Baie dankie Boela, I have downloaded the App, very interesting and useful

 

[Bushpig4Ever]

Thank you for the link. No other person knows more about South African snakes than Johan Marais. He is an incredible expert.

 

[Boela]

For those of you planning to visit Zululand - here is some interesting facts.

Ngwelezane Hospital, situated in Empangeni, is ranked as the top snakebite treatment hospital in South Africa. They handle snakebite victims on an almost daily basis and their Doctors and nurses are very well equipped and trained.

The following stats were collected over a 5 year period and given to my by Johan Marais:

• 879 snakebite admissions over a 5 year period
• 60%+ of patients showed signs of envenomation
• Cytotoxic envenomation in 98% of cases
• 4 cases of hemotoxic envenomation
• 5 cases of neurotoxic envenomation
• 222/879 admissions children <12 years of age
• 92 patients treated with Polyvalent antivenom
• 4 treated with Monovalent antivenom
• NO fatalities

There is no doubt in my mind at all, that if I were ever to be bitten by a snake, that this is the one hospital at which I would like to be treated

 

[CAustin]

WOW!