Snake anti-venom at Hillcrest Hospital

VENOMOUS snakes proliferate in the highway area, and in response, a local hospital has set up a snake bite treatment unit.

Earlier this year Busamed Hillcrest Private Hospital hosted an education evening with local snake handler, Nick Evans from the KZN Amphibian and Reptiel Conservation, to unpack all things about snakes as the hospital prepared for its new snake bite treatment unit.

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“It was very important to educate the staff first about snakes before they could deal with the injuries,” said Busamed Hillcrest Private Hospital’s Dr Nompilo Xulu.”Nick Evans said the Upper Highway area is home to a number of highly venomous snakes and after hearing that, I knew how important it is for the community to know that we can help in cases that involve snake bites,” she added.

Evans said the most venomous snakes in the area are the Black Mamba, Boomslang, Puff Adder and Vine Snake.

Bites from these snakes need urgent treatment. Less venomous but also needing hospital treatment are the bites from Stilleto Snake and Night Adder.

“This new snake bite treatment centre in the Upper Highway area can save lives as it is important for people who have been bitten by the venomous snakes to get to a hospital as soon as possible.”

According to Dr Xulu, there is a team of specialists who are well equipped to deal with different levels of injury. “Some snake bite incidents would require surgery while some can be treated in the emergency unit without going to theatre,” she said.

Dr Xulu aid before they stocked up on the anti-venom, they had to transfer patients to St Augustine’s Hospital.

The hospital wants the Upper Highway community to know it now stocks anti-venom and can treat any snake bite and there are plans for outreach programmes in the Highway area to ensure more people know about the treatment.