HOW To Prevent Snake Attacks And What To Do Immediately After A Snake Bite

As Snake Incidents Rise, Health Experts Emphasise Prevention and Rapid Medical Response

With increasing reports of snake sightings and snakebite incidents across residential and rural communities, health and safety experts have renewed calls for heightened awareness on snake prevention and life-saving first-aid response.

Medical professionals warn that snakebites remain a serious public health concern, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas, where delayed access to proper medical care often leads to avoidable deaths.

How Snakes Enter Homes and Why Prevention Matters

Experts explain that snakes are often drawn into homes and compounds in search of food and shelter, especially where rodents, frogs, or bushy surroundings are present.

To prevent snakes from entering residential areas, residents are advised to:

Clear bushes, tall grasses, and refuse around homes

Remove wood piles, debris, and uncovered drains

Seal cracks, holes, and gaps in walls, doors, and foundations

Use wire mesh on ventilation points and drainage openings

Properly store food to prevent rats and rodents

Environmental hygiene, experts say, remains the most effective defense against snake intrusion.

Common Mistakes That Increase Snakebite Risk

Public health officials warn that poor lighting at night, walking barefoot outdoors, and reaching into dark spaces such as gutters, bushes, or abandoned materials significantly increase the risk of snake encounters.

Residents are encouraged to:

Use torches at night

Wear boots when walking in bushy areas

Educate children to avoid touching snakes, dead or alive

What To Do Immediately After a Snake Bite

Medical experts stress that speed and calmness can determine survival after a snakebite.

If a snakebite occurs, the following steps should be taken immediately:

Stay calm to slow the spread of venom

Move the victim away from the snake

Immobilize the bitten limb and keep it still

Remove tight items such as rings, bangles, or shoes

Rush the victim to the nearest hospital for urgent care

Health professionals emphasise that anti-snake venom (ASV) is the only proven treatment for snakebites.

Dangerous Myths That Can Cost Lives

Doctors strongly caution against common but harmful practices, including:

Cutting the wound

Sucking out venom

Applying herbs, chemicals, or “black stone”

Using tight tourniquets

Giving alcohol or traditional mixtures

“These actions do more harm than good and often worsen the victim’s condition,” a medical expert warned.

Early Hospital Treatment Saves Lives

According to health authorities, delays in seeking medical care remain the leading cause of snakebite fatalities. Venom can cause internal bleeding, tissue damage, breathing failure, and organ shutdown if not treated promptly.

“The earlier anti-snake venom is administered, the higher the chance of survival,” health officials said.

Public Call for Awareness and Preparedness

Health experts are calling on community leaders, schools, and households to prioritise snakebite awareness education, especially during rainy seasons when snake activity increases.

They also urge governments and health facilities to ensure adequate availability of anti-snake venom, particularly in rural hospitals.

📌 Public Safety Advisory:

Snakebite is a medical emergency, not a spiritual or traditional issue. Immediate hospital care saves lives.

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