Lesson 15 – Creepy Crawly Management

What we do at EGM (MPC) to Prevent “Nasty” Incidents

“Nasty’s” – Affects of different Snake Venoms.

Neurotoxic Venom – Cobras and Mambas

• The bite feels more like a sting leaving two puncture wounds with little or no bruising and swelling.
• Neurotoxic Venom will affect the Nervous System and cause initial muscle weakness, blurred vision, difficulty in swallowing and breathing and eventually paralysis.
• Immobilise the limb and do restrict blood flow between the bite and the heart. Administer CPR until Medical help is available.

Haematoxic Venom – Boom Slang & Twig/Vine Snake

• The bite is not very painful, leaving two puncture wounds that will start bleeding within 1 hour of the bite
• Haemotoxic Venom destroys the platelets in the blood and causes major internal bleeding in the lungs, liver, kidneys, spleen with blood leaking out of all the body orifices, including minor wounds and bruises.
• Slow the blood flow by keeping the person still. If venom was spat into their eyes wash eyes with milk or water.

Cytotoxic Venom – Puff Adders

• Cytotoxic Venom attacks the Body Cells or Tissue. This bite is very painful with symptoms of shock.
• It causes massive swelling and bruising to the bite area and could eventually burst the skin open.
• Immobilise the limb but do not restrict the blood flow

Myotoxic Venom – Sea Snakes

• Myotoxic Venom attacks the Muscles and can lead to death from kidney and heart failure.

“Nasty’s” – Venomous Snakes

• The Black Mamba, Africa’s most venomous and aggressive snake is not black but brown/olive skinned with inky black mouths which they show when threatened.
• Adults reach up to 2.5m in length and can reach speeds of up to 20km/h.
• When it attacks it strikes up to 12 times per strike, delivering enough Neuro & Cardio-toxic venom to kill 12 men within 1 hour. Without anti-venom, the mortality rate is 100%.

• The Green Mamba is found in South East Africa, is less aggressive and smaller than its relative the Black Mamba and averages around 1.8m in length.
• It is less Toxic but it’s Venom can still be fatal with a single bite.
• Green Mambas are yellow when born but turn grassy green as they age for camouflage in trees as they are arboreal and almost never touch the ground.

• The Cape Cobra is common throughout dry regions in Southern Africa, grow to an average of 1.2m, hunts for rodents and climbs trees to raid weaver bird colonies.
• Cobras have a powerful venom and tend to be nervous and aggressive making them one of the deadliest snakes in Southern Africa.
• Without treatment, 60% of humans normally die 2-5 hours after being bitten, usually as a result of respiratory failure due to the onset of paralysis.

• Mozambique Spitting Cobras are one of Africa’s dangerous snakes, second to the Mamba. Olive or tawny brown on top and pink to purple yellowish belly with black bars across the neck
• This snake is nervous and highly strung and when confronted at close quarters can rear up to almost  two-thirds of its length, spread its long narrow hood and “spit” in defense.
• Its bite causes severe local tissue destruction (similar to that of the puff adder). Venom to the eyes can also cause impaired vision or blindness.

• Puff Adders reach an length of about 1m but are solidly built with a wide girt and are considered deadly as it is responsible for the most human fatalities.
• They occur throughout Africa except for rain forests and deserts. Their color patterns vary depending on where they live. They rely on camouflage for protection and lie still if approached.
• The Puff Adder has large fangs and its venom is powerful enough to kill a grown man with a single bite. Many deaths occur from bites that are not treated, leading to infection and gangrene.

• The Boomslang is a dangerous snake found in Sub-Saharan Africa and lives in trees. Females are brown with the males light green with black highlights and grow to an average of 1.5m long.
• Human deaths are rare as this snake is very timid, but spectacular. Its fangs are at the back of its head and if bitten it’s Haemotoxic Venom affects the body’s natural blood clotting mechanism.
• Symptoms can be seen within 24hrs felt  and results in the bleeding of the internal organs.

• The Rinkhals is found in the Southern Cape, N.E through the Free State, Lesotho, Transkei, Kwazulu Natal, Western Swaziland and parts of Gauteng in South Africa.
• The Rinkhals only hunts at night, its main prey being toads, small mammals, reptiles and other amphibians, but during the day it takes shelter from the sun.
• Like several other snakes, it is known for its ability to play dead by rolling onto its back with its mouth open but when distressed it spreads its hood, showing its distinctive striped neck.
• It is a spitting snake and can spray its venom (which is neurotoxic) up to 2.5m, generally at the face and if the venom enters the eyes it causes great pain as the venom is neurotoxic and partially cytotoxic.
• Local symptoms of swelling / bruising is reported in about 25% of cases. General symptoms of drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, violent abdominal pain, cramps and vertigo, or dizziness, often occur, as does a mild reaction.

• The Twig/Vine Snake is long & thin ave 1m in length with elongated head, large eyes and horizontal pupils. It is grey-brown with lighter markings similar to the colours of a twig or stick.
• If bitten, the actual bite is not very painful but puncture marks will be visible at the wound site.
• The Venom is Haemotoxic and disables the clotting process causing internal and external bleeding. There is No Antidote available in South Africa when bitten by this snake.

“Nasty’s” – Interaction with Venomous Snakes

Learning about Snakes and Teaching “Snake Awareness” to your family is important to protect you and them from snakes.

DO’s:

• Try to identify the snake; colour, size, shape of head, attacking method are all useful.
• Loosen the victim’s clothing and, if necessary, move them into the shade.
• Keep victim calm and still. Movement increases blood flow allowing venom to reach the heart much faster.
• Immobilise the limb but Do Not restrict blood flow unless the bite was from a Neurotoxic Venom snake.
• Clean and dress the wound being careful not to apply pressure and cause bruising.
• Be prepared to administer CPR if necessary.
• Get the victim to a hospital as soon as possible.

DON’TS:

• Allow the victim to exercise or stress themselves.
• Cut the bite or attempt to suck the venom out.
• Give the victim anything to eat or drink especially alcohol.
• Use soapy water round the bite wound or soak the affected limb in any solutions.
• Leave pressure bandages on too long.
• Leave the victim alone.
• Apply ice to the wound.

NOTE: Avoidance is the Best Defence against Snakes!!

“Nasty’s” – Different Types of Scorpions

South Africa has only about 12 Scorpion related fatalities per year thanks to the availability of good medical facilities and anti-venoms as compared to countries like Mexico with more than 2000 people die annually as a direct results of Scorpion stings.

General Rule of Thumb:

Very Poisonous Scorpions: 

Thick Tails and Small Pinchers

Less Poisonous Scorpions:

Thin Tails and Big Pinchers

Most scorpions are not dangerous to humans, however, a few species such as the Buthidae (Thick Tails) can be dangerous to humans as their Venom is Neurotoxic which affect the Nervous System

“Nasty’s” – Scorpion Sting Symptoms / Treatment

Symptoms of a Scorpion Sting:

• Pain, tingling or burning sensation at the sting site with numbness setting in after a while.
• Sweating, nausea and vomiting
• Abnormal muscle twitching of the neck, eyes and head.
• Heart palpitations and difficulties with breathing may occur.

In Severe Cases:

• Blurring of consciousness and eventually Unconsciousness.
• Convulsions and violent shaking of the muscles
• A drop in Blood Pressure with Shock setting in and the threat of death

Treatment for Scorpion Stings:

1.For the first 2 hrs put ice bags on the sting site to help reduce pain and to slow the absorption of venom.

2.Immobilize the affected part in a functional position below the level of the heart to delay venom absorption.

3.Calm the patient to lower the heart rate and blood pressure, thus limiting the spread of the venom.

4.Apply a topical or local anesthetic / antibiotic ointment to the wound to decrease the sensation of tingling, pricking, or numbness of the skin.

5.Seek medical attention immediately.

“Nasty’s” – Spiders

There are 5 Species of Spiders in S.A. whose bite might be fatal or of medical importance.

The Venom  of these spiders can be divided into Neurotoxic (affects the central nervous system) or Cytotoxic (affects the tissue around the bite site).

• Determining if a victim has been bitten by a spider is almost impossible. Studies have shown that victims often only seek help more than three days after their bites, making it nearly impossible to identify the culprit.
• Most reactions to Spider bites look the same with redness, swelling, itching and pain around the bite.
• Victims must be concerned when a local reaction continues to get worse for more than 24 hours.
• Look for redness spreading away from the bite, drainage from the bite, increase in pain, numbness or tingling, or a discoloration around the bite that looks like a halo or bulls eye.
• An allergic reaction is the biggest concern with any type of bug bite.
• Seek medical attention if the victim exhibits any signs of allergic reaction or anaphylaxis shock after a bite.

• The Violin / Recluse Spider are brownish with a darker brown characteristic violin marking on the rear body and inhabits warm areas
• They have a potent tissue-destroying venom capable of causing lesions (open sores) as large as a bottle cap. The wounds take a long time to heal and may require skin grafts.
• If these open wounds become infected there are often serious consequences. Rarely, the venom is carried by the blood stream to internal organs causing systemic effects.

• The Black Button Spider’s bite is usually very painful.
• The Venom causes profuse sweating, raised blood pressure, restlessness and general muscle pain and cramps, stiffness of the stomach muscles, limb pain and weakness in legs.
• Victums must be hospitalised and their vital signs monitored for 24 hours.

• The Brown Button Spider’s symptoms occurring after the bite are milder and tend to be restricted to the bite site, characterized by a local burning sensation, which may spread to the surrounding tissue and lymph nodes.
• The bite site is more evident and often seen as a red spot or blanched area surrounded by a localised rash and usually clears up within a day or two.

• ­The Six Eyed Sand Spider is a fast moving spider that only lives in the South African desert.
• ­It is light or reddish brown and sometimes yellowish in colour with a body of about ½ inch long and when measured to include its legs is about 2 inches in length.
• ­Toxicology studies have shown their venom is particularly potent, with a powerful Cytotoxic / Neurotoxic effect  causing blood vessel leakage, thinning of the blood and tissue destruction.