longqi

Member
Jun 4, 2010
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This link and the document there may help you one day

Well worth reading and printing off
Original document includes photos too but they didnt copy onto here

https://www.facebook.com/notes/bali...nly-bite-treatment-that-works/407779562657452

Bali venomous [poisonous] snakes and the only bite treatment that works
September 19, 2013 at 11:25am

Bali venomous [poisonous] snakes and the only bite treatment that works





Nearly 40 species of snakes live in Bali, yet only 6 snakes in Bali can be potentially dangerous to humans

Most important thing to remember is that over 80% of snake bite deaths are caused by humans trying to catch or kill a snake

What you see on tv or Utube is not reality. TV needs good ratings to survive and to get good rating snakes must appear to be deadly creatures. When given the opportunity snakes would much rather just vanish to a safe place than bite



Please remember this sentence. “There is no reason to die of snakebite”



I will now describe in easy to understand language what happens on the rare occasions someone is bitten

Venom travels through the tiny vessels just under the surface of the skin. With most Bali venomous snakes this venom attacks the cardio vascular system [heart and lungs] and stops them working.

The most important action of the first aid is to slow the speed of the venom through the human body so that the body can start breaking down the venom



1] Reassurance. People have been known to nearly die from non venomous snake bites because fear of the unknown sent them into shock. You need the patient to become as calm and as relaxed as possible. So reassurance is vitally important.

Saying ‘OH MY GOD. A snake bit you and you will die an agonizing death” is not reassuring. Saying “Its ok buddy. Probably non venomous anyway, and even if it was venomous it probably didn’t bother using venom, and you are going to be fine” is reassuring

2] Immobilize the limb that was bitten to slow the speed of blood through that limb and keep the bite below the level of the heart. Splints are best and can be made out of anything such as a piece of bamboo. But hand and finger bites can be immobilized simply by tucking them under a shirt or t shirt or into a sling. In every case except when you are absolutely positive the bite was from a Pit Viper, all that is needed is an elastic bandage to really slow the speed of venom through the body. Every home in Asia should keep one of these in a handy place. This compares to bandaging a sprained wrist or ankle. It is NOT a tourniquet to cut off blood supply. Start about 1inch or 25milimetres above the bite and start wrapping the limb in bandage as far up the limb as the bandage will reach. Bandage should not be either tight or loose. It should be comfortably tight. You can easily check the tightness by squeezing a nail on the limb. The nail white should return to pink when the nail is released, Pit Viper bites should be immobilized without a bandage applied, but only if you are 100% certain it was a Pit Viper. If there is any doubt at all use the bandage

3] Hospital. Get the patient to hospital as quickly as you can and ring the hospital to let them know what happened. During this time keep reassuring the patient that everything will be ok. Also watch them carefully for changes such as gasping for breath etc. Venom can stop the patient breathing so be prepared if the trip is a long one.

4] Tell the hospital staff exactly what happened and of any noticeable changes in the patient since the bite happened In most cases hospitals don’t even use anti venom. They observe the patient and let the human body break down any venom by itself



SANGLAH HOSPITAL Jalan Diponegoro Denpasar+62 361 227911 is the only hospital in Bali that always has anti venon in stock at this time. Hopefully this will be changing soon and we will update this note as things improve



So remember these; REASSURE THE PATIENT; IMMOBILIZE THE LIMB; HOSPITAL; TALK TO DOCTOR



Important note. Spitting cobras can spit venom very accurately at your eyes over a distance of 2 metres. Venom in the eyes will not kill you; but it can blind you if not washed out fairly quickly. Mild saline solution is best but basically any water will work. Wash your eyes 10 times and then wash them again and again until no trace of pain is left. Then rinse them again Do the same thing for any cats or dogs that have decided a cobra is an easy meal



Don't try to catch or kill the snake

Don't give alcohol

Don't try to suck out the venom

Don't ever use a tourniquet Don't panic



Traditional remedies do not and cannot work on snake bite.

The only reasons they appear to work are simple to explain.

Most snake bites are either from non venomous snakes or are what are called ‘dry’ bites; which means no venom, or else a miniscule amount of venom was injected by the snake. When a patient uses traditional methods they seem to work in those cases because there was nothing to cure and the patient would have survived anyway



Bali Venomous Snakes



King cobra [Ophiophagus hannah or ular raja]. Longest venomous snake on Earth Never seen one in Bali over 4,7 metres but that is still a big snake. Rarely seen anywhere in Bali anymore, Only confirmed recent sightings are from around Negara in West Bali and north from there Large powerful snakes that will defend themselves and their nests strongly. Usually found underground in holes or crevices in rocks, or deep inside clumps of bamboo Please report any sightings of these to Bali Reptile Rescue 0821 4638 0270 as we are keeping an eye on a couple and are very interested in their travels



Spitting cobra [Naja sputatrix or ular sendok or lipi woh] up to 1.5 metre in Bali. Found all over Bali including Kuta Seminyak Sanur Lovina Ubud and Amed areas. They do not need to put up their hoods to bite or spit. Usually live underground in rat holes, drain pipes or under concrete slabs . They are a lot more common than most people realise and co-exist with humans in many areas without the people even knowing they are there Most common colour is dull brown but can vary from cream through to nearly black

Important note. These cobras can spit venom very accurately at your eyes over a distance of 2 metres. Venom in the eyes will not kill you; but it can blind you if not washed out fairly quickly. Mild saline solution is best but basically any water will work. Wash your eyes 10 times and then wash them again and again until no trace of pain is left. Then rinse them again Do the same thing for any cats or dogs that have decided a cobra is an easy meal



Banded krait, [Bungarus candidus or ular weling or lipi poleng] around 1 metre is maximum size in Bali Very dangerous snake for 3 reasons

1; It does not look dangerous
2; Although it is usually pictured as black with white bands it also comes in a pure black colour
3; Its bite can take up to 12 hours before showing any effects

As far as I can find out the black coloured banded krait is only common in Bali. We have found them from Cangu to Ubud and Sukawati and everywhere in between Usually found in or near water and rarely seen above ground level



White lipped green island pit viper; [Trimersurus albolabris insularis or lipi gadang or ular hijau ekor mira] Rarely reaches 1 metre in Bali. Relatively common all over Bali. Usually seen in trees or bushes and bamboo, but often hide at ground level during the day or on bright moon nights. During wet season often visit houses or out buildings. These snakes are never reluctant to bite if approached Contrary to what all the stories say, their bite is unlikely to kill a healthy human. They can make you sick and sometimes the venom causes creeping necrosis [rotting flesh] around the bite area, But the bite will not kill you in normal circumstances



Coral snake; [Calliophis intestinalis or ular cabe] 50cm seems maximum size Under belly is usually white with black striping. Very rare in Bali, highly venomous but rarely bites. These also live underground but little is known about them in



Bali Sea snakes. Various species or lipi laut. Over 3 metres maximum size Although these snakes are usually reluctant to bite they will only take so much handling, so please just look at them instead of annoying them. Two recent bites were from people copying what they had seen on tv shows. Very luckily both these bites were dry. All sea snakes can bite humans. It is a myth that they cannot bite



If you have any questions or worries about snakes, or want any unwelcome visitors relocated safely call us

We are available at any time of the day or night

please call balireptilerescue 0821 4638 0270
 

davita

Well-Known Member
Mar 13, 2012
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Very valuable information Longgi...I will certainly print this out. Thank you
 

longqi

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Jun 4, 2010
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They are in the process of writing something similar for each area of Indonesia that has different venomous snakes
 

davita

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Mar 13, 2012
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A few days ago some of my wife's ex Flt Attendant colleagues stayed with us in Kerobokan. They thought it 'cool' to enter the sawa opposite our house, which was green and lush and flourishing, to take pictures.
Silly girls got stuck in the mud and wrestled with their shoes to get out....I yelled "SNAKE".:apologetic: They shit themselves and left the shoes behind!
My driver had to recover the shoes later and I was not Mr popularity for the rest of the day...I don't know why...there could have been a snake...I've seen many but usually ones squashed by a motobike.
 

longqi

Member
Jun 4, 2010
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Hahaha davita

Need to a be a bit careful at night near rice fields
Small snake called a krait always lives in or near water
Often black coloured instead of black with white bands making it hard to see
 

Joe Writeson

Member
Jul 30, 2013
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Indonesia
Excellent info and well worth reposting. Never forget that idiot Steve Irwin messing about on TV with a Spitting Cobra in Sanur...he was trying to grab it by the tail when it nearly got him..great example to kids watching...course we all know what Mother Nature did to him in the way of payback...
 

Rangi

Active Member
May 23, 2011
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Legian
Excellent info and well worth reposting. Never forget that idiot Steve Irwin messing about on TV with a Spitting Cobra in Sanur...he was trying to grab it by the tail when it nearly got him..great example to kids watching...course we all know what Mother Nature did to him in the way of payback...

TIVp2.gif



What a terrible thing to say. Irwin was a legend.
 

davita

Well-Known Member
Mar 13, 2012
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Rangi;88977 What a terrible thing to say. Irwin was a legend.[/QUOTE said:
and...according to the wiki link I just posted on the thread "7 months in Bali"...... Irwin spoke excellent 'Strine. :tongue:
 

Joe Writeson

Member
Jul 30, 2013
591
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Indonesia
The Legend and the image were manufactured and perpetrated for purely financial reasons....he wasn't above putting his kid in dangerous situations to sell TV time ...his crew commented that he often took unnecessary risks ...oh and who can forget the 'Bindi Irwin Line of Kids Safari Clothes' ...just like Dads...went the ads
 
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ferdie

Member
Apr 4, 2013
677
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Near Ubud
I used to watch Irwin's program and wish I could be him, but I stop wishing that when I heard about the stingray :tongue:
 

JoNat

New Member
Aug 12, 2013
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Thank you for this, very informative.
I was wondering: are most fothese snakes shy, i.e., do they tend to stay away from areas frequented by humans? I know the rice fields are not the best place to traipse about, but any other "top tips" to/ not to do? You mention that some prefer to come out at night, probably to hunt...

Thanks for this insight, much appreciated!
 

ferdie

Member
Apr 4, 2013
677
2
16
Near Ubud
Jonat, most of this snakes would move away if they felt the presence of big animals or human by vibration on the ground.
I've been gettin advise to deliberately walk heavily to create enough vibration to drove away the snakes in the rice field or around the bushes
 

Joe Writeson

Member
Jul 30, 2013
591
3
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Indonesia
99.99 % of snakes will avoid human/reptile interface and slither off at the first feel of vibration through the ground...that is except for The Seram Death Adder...now I don't know about you but any creature with 'death' in its name has my undivided attention and respect...they are nasty, aggressive, territorial and downright anti-social...to be avoided at all costs.
Fortunately as the name implies they are mostly only found on or around Seram Island, that big lump on the left of Irian Jaya just down from 'The Bird's Head'...however they do manage to get themselves onto Phinisi's etc.and sometimes turn up where they are least expected.
They are short thick and stumpy with a 'rat's tail'...they are immensely powerful and can project themselves through the air anything up to three metres...a Grim Reaptile indeed...do not try to pick one of THESE up by the tail...
 

longqi

Member
Jun 4, 2010
46
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6
Thank you for this, very informative.
I was wondering: are most fothese snakes shy, i.e., do they tend to stay away from areas frequented by humans? I know the rice fields are not the best place to traipse about, but any other "top tips" to/ not to do? You mention that some prefer to come out at night, probably to hunt...

Thanks for this insight, much appreciated!

Snakes are defensive rather than aggressive
Where you get problems is if you are between the snake and its escape route

Most Bali snakes are nocturnal
King cobra, Spitting cobra [venomous]. and oriental rat snake[harmless] are the three main exceptions to that rule
Malayan or blue kraits are nocturnal and deadly. Vary in colour from black with white bands to pure black with no bands
Usually found near or in water

38 species of snake found here but only 6 are potentially dangerous
So your odds are pretty good

Lots of good information on this link
https://www.facebook.com/balireptilerescue