Download App to learn more about snakebite and snakes
There is a section where you can see the local snake species in your area, which helps with identification.
First aid for a snakebite is problematic, largely because of all the myths and incorrect or outdated information that does the rounds.
While sound advice is given in books like Snakes and Snakebite in Southern Africa, few people have access to such publications.
In light of the above, internationally renowned herpetologist and author Johan Marais and the team at the African Snakebite Institute put together a free App that covers the essentials of first aid treatment for snakebite.
The advice is concise, accurate and simple to follow and understand.
It also includes emergency contact numbers for snakebite incidences.
The medical treatment of snakebite is also covered and gives medical doctors quick and easy access to the published snakebite treatment protocols.
These publications cover the diagnosis and treatment of snakebite including the use of anti-venom.
For unwanted snakes in houses, gardens and business premises, the App lists over 450 snake removers countrywide, divided into specific areas.
To search and find a snake remover in your area is incredibly simple.
Should anyone encounter a snake and need it identified, a feature allows anyone to quickly submit a photograph for positive identification.
And there is also a section where you can see the local snake species in your area, which helps with identification.
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The African Snakebite Institute runs a very popular Facebook page (African Snakebite Institute https://www.facebook.com/AfricanSnakebiteInstituteOfficial), as well as the Facebook group, Snakes of South Africa (https://www.facebook.com/groups/snakesofsouthafrica).
Between the two the institute has over 190 000 followers/members.
These both serve as fantastic platforms to educate the public about snakes.
There is a huge amount of myth and superstition surrounding snakes, and it’s great to see that people are interested in knowing more about them, their behaviour, how to identify them, what to do if someone is bitten, and how to remove them from unwanted places safely.
The app aims to give a greater number of people the chance to educate themselves about these misunderstood creatures.
It’s a free download, and once accessed the first time, the information will stay accessible on your phone – even if you don’t have an internet connection whilst in the bush.
Lastly, the App also has snake profiles of common snakes in Southern Africa – each profile has four colour photographs, a distribution map and a short section on a snake species to assist with identification.
This free App has had over 20 000 downloads in the first three months.
To download the App go to https://www.africansnakebiteinstitute.com/app.
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Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor) leighh@caxton.co.za.
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