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The ASF team works diligently to address the dire need for snakebite support in tropical climates. If you enjoy the articles below, please consider making a tax-deductible donation. Recurring or one-time donations, no matter the amount, equate to life-changing support for snakebite victims and their families. If there are any topics you’d like addressed, please email us. We always love the opportunity to educate.
International Snakebite Awareness Day
Each year on September 19th, the world observes International Snakebite Awareness Day—a crucial initiative aimed at raising awareness of the often-overlooked problem of snakebite injuries. Every four minutes, someone in the world dies from a venomous snakebite. Despite being a significant global health crisis, snakebite treatment remains under-discussed and underfunded, particularly in developing countries. This day serves as a reminder of the urgent need for action, education, and better resources to combat this preventable tragedy. Asclepius Snakebite Foundation is committed to improving outcomes and reducing the harms caused by snakebites.
Are Baby Snakes Really More Dangerous Than Adults?
Contrary to popular belief, the bite of a baby rattlesnake is almost always far less serious than the bite of a larger adult rattlesnake. The notion that baby rattlesnakes cannot control the quantity of venom injected (referred to in the field of Herpetology as “venom metering”) is a myth that has been disproven multiple times through well-designed studies.
Asclepius and Snakes: Symbols of Medicine and Healing
Snakes were not always associated with fear and loathing. There has been a long association between the serpent and the healing arts. If you look closely, you can find snakes adorning all sorts of medical symbols around the world from the Star of Life that adorns modern ambulances to the emblem of the World Health Organization and US Army Medical Corps. In ancient Greek mythology and religion, Asclepius was the god of medicine and of the healing arts and carried around a staff wrapped by a serpent.
How to Survive a Snakebite in the Wilderness
FIRST AND FOREMOST, DO NOT MAKE IT WORSE!
DO NOT MAKE A TOURNIQUET, DO NOT CUT AND SUCK, DO NOT APPLY THE SAWYER EXTRACTOR OR OTHER COMMERCIAL “SNAKEBITE KITS”, DO NOT ELECTROCUTE YOURSELF WITH A STUN GUN, AND DO NOT FOLLOW ANY STRANGE RECOMMENDATIONS YOU RECEIVE FROM OTHER HIKERS ON THE TRAIL. NO FIRST AID IS OFTEN LESS HARMFUL THAN BAD FIRST AID WHEN IT COMES TO SNAKEBITES!
How to Treat Snakebites for First Responders in the United States
Approximately 9,000 snakebite envenomations occur yearly in the United States. Most of these envenomations are due to pit vipers, including rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, and copperheads. Fortunately, due to rapid access to medical care, deaths are rare, with only 3 to 5 occurring nationwide each year. Our emergency medical system is the first link in the chain of treating patients. In comparison to many areas of the world, the U.S. has an advanced system of highly-trained EMTs and paramedics skilled in the prompt assessment, stabilization, and transport of critically ill patients.
Veterinary Experts Do Not Recommend the Rattlesnake Vaccine
Veterinary experts in snakebite medicine do not recommend the rattlesnake vaccine
Snakebite Treatment: Past, Present, and Future
Snakebites have challenged humans for centuries. Without a proper understanding of how snake venoms worked, physicians used the same ineffective treatments through much of history. Antivenoms are now manufactured all over the world to treat all kinds of snakebites and scientists are creating new potential therapies with the goal of more effectively treating all snakebites.
Exploring Viper Venoms
Venomous snakes, particularly vipers, have long captured the imagination of humanity. From ancient myths to modern scientific study, these creatures have intrigued and sometimes terrified us. Central to their fearsome reputation is their venom – a complex cocktail of bioactive molecules designed for subduing prey and defending against threats. Here, we delve into the fascinating world of venom components in vipers, exploring their diversity, functions, and potential applications.
Snake Antivenoms: Understanding Key Terms
Snakebite is a global health concern, and antivenoms are crucial in mitigating their impact. In this post, we'll unravel the complexities of snakebite antivenoms, breaking down key terms like monovalent, polyvalent, specific, paraspecific, and lyophilized to provide a clearer understanding.
The Push for Exotic Antivenoms in the United States
Historically, the responsibility of stocking antivenom for exotic snake bites has fallen on the shoulders of local zoos. When a keeper is bitten, the zoo would generously donate antivenom to the patient. However, this approach not only strains the zoos, requiring time to replace antivenom and putting keepers at risk, but it also poses a danger to the patient due to the time-consuming logistics of organizing and executing antivenom transportation. In cases of envenomation, every minute is crucial.