Every year the incidents of snake bites start increasing during the monsoon season.
A similar incident took place in Bassian village of Ludhiana district, in which two brothers and sisters died due to snake bite.
On the day of Rakshabandhan, eight-year-old Jobanpreet and his six-year-old sister died of snake bite.
Both the children were sleeping near their grandmother outside the rooms in the house.
Suddenly, at around 3 pm, Jobanpreet complained to her grandmother that she had been bitten by something. But the family members thought it might be some insect or mosquito. After some time, his sister Jaspreet also complained that she had been bitten by something.
Meanwhile, when the condition of the children started deteriorating and a snake was seen near the incident site, the family took the children to the hospital.
Jaspreet died before reaching the hospital, while Jobanpreet died during treatment in a private hospital in Ludhiana.
According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, there are an estimated 30 to 40 lakh cases of snake bites in India every year, out of which about 50,000 people die. This number is almost half of the total deaths due to snake bites worldwide.
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In such a situation, questions are being raised as to what things should be kept in mind and what precautions should be taken after a snake bite.
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Nikhil Sangar, resident of Nawanshahr, has more than 10 years of experience in rescuing snakes. During this period he has saved the lives of thousands of snakes. He has also worked with the Punjab Forest and Wildlife Conservation Department for a long time.
According to him, "Four species of snakes are deadly in Punjab. These species include cobra, common krait, Russell's viper and saw-scaled viper."
According to experts, snake bite is a medical emergency. Many poisonous snakes are found in Punjab, but the bite of every snake is not fatal. Nevertheless, snake bites should be taken seriously and one should go to the hospital immediately.
Dr. Deepak Mongia, posted as a medical officer in the government hospital of Samana, says, "The most important thing after a snake bite is to reach the hospital. The most effective treatment for snake venom is anti-venom vaccine, which is also called anti-snake venom vaccine. The sooner this vaccine is given, the better it is for the patient."
Dr. Akhil Sarin, Senior Medical Officer, Ludhiana Civil Hospital, explains, "How long will it take for the symptoms of snake venom to appear, how long will it take for the poison to take effect, or when will the anti-venom vaccine be given? It all depends on the type of snake and the age, health and immunity of the patient."
What to do before reaching the hospital in case of snake bite:
According to the National Health Mission's Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and doctors, these important precautions should be taken:
Keep the patient calm.
Avoid nervousness and excessive movement.
Do not force the patient to run or walk.
Move the affected body part as little as possible.
Avoid moving the snake bitten hand or leg.
Immobilize the limb with a splint or other support so that the blood supply does not stop.
Remove jewellery, rings, bracelets, shoes, watches and tight clothes from the snake bitten area. These can later cause swelling and worsen the condition.
Do not cover the wound.
Make the patient lie on his left side. While doing this, support your head with your hands and keep your right leg bent.
What absolutely should not be done?
According to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of the National Health Mission, the bitten area should not be tied tightly with rope or cloth. This can stop blood flow and cause damage to the organ.
The wound should not be cut with a blade or knife or anything else nor should one try to suck out the poison. Do not apply ice, heat, electricity or chemicals to the wound. These methods can cause harm.
Dr. Deepak Mongia says that one should not waste one's time by falling prey to Tantriks, Babas or exorcists. Scientific treatment of snake poison is done only in hospital. There is no scientific evidence that traditional treatment methods are effective.
Which symptoms should be paid special attention to?
Dr. Mongia explains that one should pay attention to symptoms like pain at the bite site, increasing swelling, bleeding, blistering, drooping of eyelids, blurred or double vision, difficulty in speaking, difficulty in swallowing, difficulty in breathing, muscle weakness and bleeding from the nose, gums or other parts of the body.
He says, "In any case, if a snake bites, you should immediately reach the hospital, even if the snake is not poisonous. Let the doctor or hospital decide what kind of treatment the patient needs or not. But if any of these symptoms are seen, it means that the situation is dangerous."
He further explains, "The symptoms of bite of some poisonous snakes may appear late. Therefore, even if the patient feels fine initially, it is still necessary to go to the hospital."
What happens in the hospital?
Dr. Akhil Sarin, Senior Medical Officer, Ludhiana Civil Hospital, says, "On reaching the hospital, the patient is first admitted to the emergency room. There the treatment process begins. First of all, it is ascertained whether the bite is poisonous or not and then treatment is given accordingly."
He said, "Anti-venom vaccine for the treatment of snake bites is available in every government hospital where there is an emergency department."
Doctors examine the patient to find out whether the snake that bit him is poisonous or not. If poisonous, anti-snake venom is given. If the patient does not recover from this injection, then he is kept on life support system, where the effects of the poison are treated.
What is the difference between insect bite and snake bite?
Dr. Mongia says, "Snake bite marks can be of different types. Sometimes there are four marks, sometimes two and sometimes only one mark. A common man cannot identify which species of snake has bitten. Only experts can tell the difference."
Generally, the bite mark of a tick (a type of insect) is very fine. Sometimes this mark is not visible. Sometimes it looks like a scratch and sometimes the mark is not clearly visible.
Why do incidents of snake bites increase during monsoon?
Nikhil Sangar explains, "Monsoon is the breeding season for snakes. That is why these days their number is more than normal. These days insects also breed. This is the reason why snakes chase insects and reach residential areas as well."
