Snakes in summer: The 5 dangerous species in Greece - What do you do if you see them in front of you and what if they bite you

The snakes make their appearance in the summer, in Greece not only in the countryside, but also in the cities and carry many dangers with their sting for people.

In Greece, the dangerous snakes are the echidnas (vipers), while in hospitals a mild anti-Echidnas serum (Serum Antivipera) of Italian production is sometimes used as an antidote, but gradually tends to be abolished due to side effects.

Of all snakes existing in the world, 10% are poisonous. In our country (and in Europe) the poisonous snakes there are 4-5 species of echidna (viper), as reported by the Poison Center.

Venomous snake bites are dangerous and often fatal, while the bite of the viper is recognized by the two marks it leaves.

According to the first aid manual of the National Emergency Center (EKAB), the severity of the poisoning depends on certain factors, such as age, general health, location and depth of the bite.

The size of the snake and whether or not the victim moved also play a role.

The effects of snake venom are divided into two categories:

In local symptoms. These include pain, swelling, bruising and blisters that extend within a few hours. Bubbles can be infected by germs and develop into gangrene.

In generalized symptoms. They occur in case the poison is absorbed and are the most worrying. They include vomiting, weakness, dizziness, chills with fever, sweating and bleeding. Tachycardia, hypotension, shock, pulmonary edema and acute renal failure may also occur.

How to deal with snake bites

The first concern after the bite is to immobilize the victim, so that the poison does not enter the bloodstream. EKAB recommends the following:

No walking.

Reassurance of the victim.

Remove jewelry and tight clothing (eg socks) before swelling begins.

Immobilization of the limb (where the bite occurred) in a position lower than the height of the heart.

Clean the wound with soap and water.

No ice on the wound.

No ischemic ligation. The recommendation to tie the limb tightly with a bandage or cloth higher than the wound site to prevent the poison from spreading is wrong.

No administration of coffee and alcohol.

No snake catch. Try to memorize the color and shape of the snake, to describe it to doctors.

Hospital delivery.

After the snake bite, an anti-tetanus serum needs to be made. Antifungal serum is made only in the hospital and is not always necessary, it is mentioned in the EKAB manual.

In addition, antihypertensive serum may cause an allergic reaction or even rash in people who are allergic.

It is noted that the Poisoning Center is part of the Pathology Department of the General Children's Hospital of Athens "Panagiotis & Aglaias Kyriakou".

It works all days and hours, giving information and instructions on the phone 210 77.93.777.

In Greece, out of about 70 species of reptiles that can be found, only 7 carry venom and are all species of snakes. The 5 belong to the Echidnidae family (Vipers) and are tube-carved¹ with relatively strong venom, while the other 2 belong to the family Columbrida and are back-carved with weak venom, harmless to humans.

In total in our country there are 23 different species of snakes. The snakes of the family Echidnidae (Viperidae) never meet all together in the same place, but have a different distribution throughout Greece and are as follows:

Viper - Vipera ammodytes

Ottoman Viper - Montivipera xanthina

Viper of Milos - Macrovipera schweizeri

Astritis - Vipera berus

Nanocentra - Vipera ursinii

While the poisonous Colubridae (Colubridae) are the following:

Sapitis - Malpolon insignitus

Honeysuckle - Telescopus fallax

Of the other reptiles, no one else carries venom, whether it is a snake, lizard, turtle or amphibian, and they are all completely harmless to humans.

There are many myths about the danger of venomous snakes and how a Viper bite can kill a human in a matter of minutes.

Of course this is not the case with local snakes.

The risk of an infusion bite depends on the strength and toxicity of the venom as well as its concentration in the victim's body. Therefore, the amount of venom but also the weight and age of the victim are important factors (the amount depends on the species and size of the snake, but is also controlled by the snake itself).

In the event of being bitten by any Echidnida in our country and if venom has been injected by the snake, the person who received the bite is in danger of becoming seriously ill, only if it is not taken to a hospital for first aid within the next few hours, but instead avoid hospitalization and / or use "medicine" and invalid treatment techniques. In such a case of non-hospitalization as the last one, the health of the person is endangered and there are chances that the patient will lose his life up to the next twenty-four hours.

Vipers are late snakes, so even if they feel threatened, their first reaction is to stay still, thus trying not to be perceived. If they feel perceived they will try to get away as quickly as possible to avoid danger. In case someone approaches them enough they start whistling loudly (whistling) and curl up in a defensive position, having their head turned to the threat, whether it is a human or an animal, warning and they are ready to use their last defense, the bite. , if they approach them at a distance of less than half a meter.

Despite the myths that circulate, Vipers will never attack unless someone grabs them or comes so close, that is, if they do not feel an immediate threat to their lives. But even in this case, if someone approaches them at a dangerous distance of a few 10 cm, the Vipers, in a large percentage of chances, will bite "dry", ie without injecting venom, as a warning only.

Of the 5 species of Viper in our country, Nanohendra (Vipera ursinii) carries the weakest venom, which in combination with its small size becomes the least dangerous Viper. Nevertheless, a bite is recommended to be treated in the same way, ie with medical treatment in a first aid center.

The other 2 species of venomous snakes of the Colubridae family (Colubridae), carry weak venom, which in combination with the position of the teeth that protrude in the oral cavity, become harmless to humans, unable to cause serious damage to the body, and if they manage infusion.

Between the two snakes, Agiofido carries the weakest venom but is also the least aggressive if caught, which means that it will rarely bite, while Sapitis is distinguished by a strong defense if caught or threatened and the venom of a large person (large amount of venom) can cause pain, local swelling and possibly some other minor symptoms in sensitive individuals.

These symptoms usually go away after a few hours without treatment. Of these two hindquarters, no case has ever been reported that requires hospitalization.

All species of reptiles, amphibians or arthropods that carry venom, whether they are considered dangerous or not, can cause severe symptoms in allergic individuals.

In any case, when there are symptoms of pain and swelling (swelling) or dangerous symptoms after a snake bite, transfer to a first aid center is recommended.

In general, the venomous snakes of our country are not considered as dangerous as they are rumored to be. It is characteristic that the mortality from venomous snake bites in our country has been almost eliminated for a few decades now that there is now medical knowledge and experience for their proper treatment.

Also typical are the cases of people who visited the hospital several days after a Viper bite without further risk to their health after hospitalization.

In some other cases, people who were bitten and never visited the hospital, but only with an adrenaline injection, avoided the risk (Stefan Dummermuth incident).

The snakes and reptiles in general are affected by agricultural work. "The farm work continued normally during the lockdown period, so we can not say that the snakes found the opportunity to 'move' more comfortably," he explains, stressing that their appearance was mainly affected by the temperature rise, which became quite abrupt.

Every year at such a time, mainly from April to May, snakes are very active in search of food and for breeding purposes. So you can see them even in urban areas.

Snakes are looking for an environment as cool as a hiding place. So we take the big stones out of our garden and the wood. We cut the tall grass, prune the bases of the dense bushes and close all the slits and holes that can be used as their shelter.

Also, in order not to attract rodents in general (mice, rats) but also arthropods (crickets, locusts, etc.), we avoid leaving exposed food and we avoid planting fruit trees that can be their food. We also use ecological repellents so as not to harm our environment and health.

 

via: Enimerotiko