Viper bite: what to do
The viper is the only poisonous animal in Italy and, during a hike in nature, it could happen to us to come across for the first time in this much-feared animal.
Here in Puglia vipers are found almost exclusively in the Gargano area; so it is quite rare rinvenirla in Salento. Despite the vipers common beliefs are peaceful animals, shy and fearful that bite only if they are disturbed. Like all snakes, animals that are deaf, however, react to the vibrations of the ground, in fact, usually just a little noise to get him away and escape.
How to recognize a viper?
The main feature that distinguishes it from his peers is undoubtedly the head of triangular shape, slightly flattened. Beyond that her pupils are vertical and not round like the other species of snakes found in Italy. Its length can reach up to one meter and the color can vary from brown to gray. Along the back runs a drawing said to crescents of darker color resembles a zig zag line.
The viper bite is less deadly than is commonly believed, but not to be underestimated, especially in children and the elderly, where the weight / injected poison ratio is higher. However, the statistics show that in most of the European countries occurs one death every 1-5 years on average due to a bite, a rather low compared to the total number of bites.
Main symptoms of the viper bite:
-
Just bites you feel intense pain in the affected area accompanied by swelling and bleeding.
-
After about thirty minutes, an hour can occur dizziness, headache, a reduction in blood pressure, tachycardia, vomiting and diarrhea. In particularly serious cases there is also a difficulty in breathing. An early sign of the gravity of the situation is the fact that the victim has difficulty keeping his eyes open because of the interest of the nervous system.
What to do in case of viper bite:
-
The thing important if not the most important thing is to remain calm and reassure the victim making her lie down in order to prevent the poison from spreading as fast as possible.
-
It ‘very useful to squeeze the wound to release more venom can.
-
If the affected part is a limb must be tightened with a lace the upper reaches of the bite, approximately 5 cm.
-
It must be tightened so as to lock the lymphatic circulation but not that bleeds, then after shaking it must To manage to hear the heartbeat in the opposite part. Minimize movements and if possible splint the limb and ensure that the affected area remains lower than the heart. To suck the venom are commercially available with the appropriate cups aspirators that would be appropriate and wise to keep in your backpack. Use water to wash the wound, absolutely not with alcohol.
If everything is done effectively, the symptoms are delayed by an hour to even about 6 hours.
Which is absolutely not to do:
-
DO NOT shake the victim.
-
DO NOT move it.
-
NOT lift for any reason the limb affected with pillows or other supports.
-
DO NOT attempt to influence or suck the venom by mouth because it takes very little to be infected.
-
DO NOT give the antivipera serum because you risk anaphylactic shock. It ‘a choice that should be taken by medical staff.
-
DO NOT clean the wound with alcohol as with poison form toxic compounds.
To prevent a bite of a viper is better to avoid choosing perhaps to a mountain picnic rocky sun-exposed areas. In any case make noise with sticks to scare them. Do not move rocks and always wear high shoes that cover the ankle that limit the consequences of a bite.
Important: the above information, do not replace the advice of a doctor, but simply a purpose for guidance on what to do in the instant immediately following the bite of a viper.