Snakes!

[jeanes]

This is my perferred kind of snake

 

[Silvine]

 

[F. Vaccaro]

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Powder burning time!

 

[Hunt anything]

This is my perferred kind of snake

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I had no idea that there was a snake in this picture!

 

[PARA45]

This is my perferred kind of snake

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Red Tail Boa Constrictor.

 

[observe]

BLACK MAMBA

 

[observe]

 

[observe]

 

[Hyde Hunter]

no thank you

 

[F. Vaccaro]

Hopefully this is as close as I’ll ever get to those!

 

[observe]

 

[observe]

ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS! [COPIED]
In 2006 when I started working on improving the outcome of snakebites in Eswatini, I heard the words, “this happens with a Black mamba bite.
You must say goodbye to your child/mother/father. There is nothing we can do.” The fatality rate was 100%, as we had no antivenom or ventilators in the country.
Much has changed. If the victim gets to a medical facility on time to receive antivenom, the survival rate is 99%.
But the critical thing here is time…

*Victor was working in the fields at midday when he stood on a snake which turned and bit him on his foot. He immediately rushed to the nearest health centre. Unfortunately, the Eswatini Antivenom Foundation was not informed of the bite. Despite being restless, sweating, and in obvious distress, his symptoms were considered “mild”, and he was admitted for observation.

These are typical symptoms associated with a Black mamba bite. It was just before 4 pm, 28 HOURS after the bite, when Victor arrived at TLC in the vehicle of the health centre. He was in a critical condition and could no longer speak or breathe without great difficulty.
The venom from a Black mamba causes general weakness, which then progresses until the victim can no longer move, speak and then finally breathe. It’s a terrible way to die, especially as the hearing and brain remain unaffected. Victor was at the late stage of envenomation - he would stop breathing in mere minutes.
He was dying.
He needed antivenom treatment immediately. Within minutes, Victor was assessed, his case was discussed, and the antivenom was prepared and given without delay. After close monitoring, the clinical team agreed that he needed additional antivenom to save his life. He received a second dose.
Within an hour, Victor's condition had improved significantly. Within 8 hours, he was chatting away as if nothing had happened.
This is how effective antivenom is if given in time and in large enough doses to neutralise all the venom. Without antivenom or artificial ventilation, Victor would have died. There is a critical shortage of antivenom in Eswatini and Southern Africa. Not only have we, as the EAF, relied on The Luke Commission for help with antivenom, but so has the entire country.
TLC is the only facility that has never run out of antivenom. But it doesn’t end there. TLC has also assisted the EAF in helping the most in need regarding snakebite treatment.
When we were about to close our doors, they also came to our rescue and assisted us in keeping our Snakebite Assistants at their medical facilities.
We have 17 volunteers who immediately send out an SOS as soon as a snakebite victim arrives at a health centre or hospital.
This collaboration has saved many lives and limbs this season.
It would have been a tragic summer otherwise.

 

[observe]

 

[observe]

 

[jeanes]

Another preferred snake

 

[observe]

 

[observe]

Mozambique Spitting Cobra
Highly venomous and accounts for many serious bites.

 

[observe]

a boomslang hunting

 

[observe]

Rinkhals,
Hemachatus haemachatus (venomous)

 

[observe]

Harmless common slug eater.