How they saved a serpentologist who was bitten by a viper

The health condition of a 39-year-old female serpentologist volunteer who was bitten by a viper at a school in Polichni (Thessaloniki) has improved.

The patient is under close medical supervision, but the clinical picture of her health has improved significantly. Recall that a worker at the Action for Wildlife center arrived at the scene at the school when the watchman noticed a snake in the room and called rescuers.

As previously written “Athenian News”, the incident occurred in a school complex located next to Γιαννιτσών street. The guard noticed the viper during school hours on the first floor of the premises. The man immediately informed management, and a call was made to the fire department. They redirected the appeal, giving the phone number of two herpetologists. The first to arrive was a Wildlife Action volunteer.

The school watchman moved the snake from the ground floor to the school yard with a broom. A herpetologist wearing a gardening glove caught a snake to put in a cage. However, the viper bit her. The woman managed to place the viper in a cage, and then in her car. However, after that, right in front of the teachers, she began to rapidly develop anaphylactic shock. The woman’s condition deteriorated very quickly, and an ambulance was called. The woman was taken to the Papanicolaou Hospital, where she was admitted to Ward A’ ICU with hemodynamic instability and in critical condition.

She is an experienced herpetologist who was confident that she could take the snake without the use of additional tools, but in this case something went wrong. As a result, everything almost ended in tragedy. She was saved by immediate admission to the hospital.

Nikos Kapravelos, head of the 2nd intensive care unit of the Papanicolaou hospital, told MEGA about health condition of the volunteer, emphasizing that anaphylactic shock is the fear and horror of doctors.

“This is an event that could have tragic consequences. The bite of a viper manifests itself in the form of anaphylactic shock. Not always all patients have the same reactions, but some have anaphylactic shock on an allergic background, ”says the physician.

According to Mr. Capravelos, the immediate response of the ambulance and the transfer of the woman to the hospital saved her life.

“The first 24 hours were critical,” he commented, noting that physicians are starting to phase out mechanical and pharmaceutical support as her health is showing clear signs of improvement.

Mr. Kapravelos’ advice in case someone was bitten by a snake was to keep the limb still and get first aid as soon as possible.

In conversation with APE-MPE Mr. Strakhovinis, herpetologist, candidate of biological sciences AUTH explains that there is a gap in dealing with such incidents, as there is no competent authority, and all responsibility (and consequences) are borne by citizen volunteers.

“In Thessaloniki alone, we receive 40 to 80 calls for snake removal every year! Just think how many others don’t even call because they might just kill the snake instead. That is why there is a need to create an integrated herpetological center for education, information, connection with research, as well as for the work of a specialized initiative group that will be called upon to collect snakes,” said Mr. Strakhovinis, adding that he had already submitted such a proposal to the authorities authorities, but so far its implementation has not progressed. Promotion includes, among other things, the creation of objects, the collection and placement of species that are little known (in the given region), and the study of the composition of snake venoms, which are often used in medicine..

Equally important to Mr. Strahinis is contact between doctors and herpetologists in such cases. “Herpetologists can identify the species that have bitten the victim and therefore know what the effect of the injected venom is, and therefore it is important to establish channels of communication with the medical community to resolve such incidents.” However, according to the biologist, the antibiotic serum currently used in hospitals is delayed in action compared to the previously available type, as it is indicated to be administered only intramuscularly rather than intravenously, which would be more time effective.

“Citizens, for their part, should be trained in first aidespecially in cases such as anaphylaxis, which affected a female volunteer who came to a school call.

We must learn to recognize the signs of anaphylactic shock and have appropriate life-saving injections in such cases in our portable pharmacies.. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction and a very dangerous condition. Shock can be caused not only by poisons, but also by any substance to which a person is allergic, even food. It is useful for all of us that our doctor informs us about the types and the correct use of the appropriate drugs in this case.

Commenting on the incident with a volunteer who was bitten by a viper, he advised teachers and parents of students to remain calm.

“It would be nice to mow all the grass that is in the school yard and, if necessary, I can come and give recommendations so that this does not happen again. However, the snake in question, which was quite large, probably entered the school grounds in a vehicle, as has already been established.”

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