SNAKES

• Northern Gunma is home for many species of snakes, and during the hot summer, many of them can bee seen in cool area, near waterfront area or paddy field. Only two species are considered as venomous and consist of the "mamushi" or viper (Agkistrodon blomhoffi) and "yamakagashi" or rhabdophis (rhabdophis tigrinus). When you are walking in the bush, outside the road or near the lodges, you should (especially children) pay attention to the possible presence of snakes.
• When one is bitten by a venomous snake, he feels like if he had been stung by a bee, and his pain will last for long and the wound will swell.
• If there is no swell after 30 minutes, it means that the poison was not injected, but in any case the wound should be sterilised. This also applies for bites by non-venomous snake.
• It is not recommended that you to tie in order to stop bleeding, or that you cool the wound with ice, or that you cut the wound to draw the blood, or that you make the patient have some alcoolic drink.
• In case of a bite by a venomenous snake, as first emergency aid, your should first have the patient laying down and resting. Manage that the wounded area is not touched, and rush to the nearest hospital. Tsukiyono Byoin is the only emergengy hospital in the area.
• Endeavour to remember the features of the venomous snake as his identification will hasten the proper treatment.
• You may be subject to an attack by a snake if you have touched fishes or frogs, as they will smell it and may mistake your fingers with a possible "meal". It is also recommended that you wear boots and a pair of trousers when walking in the bush. You should also bind a towel around you neck as a bit in this part of the body can be very harmful.

Venomous Species

Mamushi

The pattern of a viper is red and black rings along the body. The shape of the head, triangular, is also very peculiar. The viper will bite if one put the hand out or step on him. We have also heard report of viper jumping from a tree.

Yamakagashi

The rhabdophis usually inhabits paddy field and waterfront area. The body length is around one meter, with black spots. The pattern for rhabdophis is a yellow body which is vivid, and a conspicuous and brown body. Usually not aggressive, the snake won't bite unless you grasped him.

A slight bite is without danger as the tooth are located in the rear of the mouth, but in case the bite is deep, the poison propagates to the entire body, provoking bleeding. The rhabdophis is considered even as more fearful than the viper and you shouldn't in any case touch him.

Poisonous snakebite is a potentially serious accident. It can lead to severe pain or other problems, and in the rare instance even death. However it is not nearly as dangerous as most believe. Snakes seldom bite humans and even when they do so, their bites are seldom fatal. There is no need to allow fear of snakes to ruin your enjoyment of the outdoors.

Snakes will usually avoid you if you give them a chance. Try to be sure they know you are coming. Don't reach into places they might hide. Be careful turning over rock and boards in snake country. Leave snakes alone; there is no simple rule to identify which are poisonous. The same advice applies to dead snakes and detached heads - reflex bites are as dangerous as bites from live snakes.

At least half of all bites are caused by foolish behavior: handling or taunting venomous snakes, or failing to move away from a venomous snake once it has been sighted.

If someone is bitten:

The following treatment protocol is provided by Jeff Isaac and Peter Goth in The Outward Bound Wilderness First Aid Handbook, Lyons and Burford, 1991.

"Transport the patient as quickly as possible to antivenin (antidote). Although local discomfort may be severe, systemic signs and symptoms may be delayed for two to six hours following the bite. Walking your patient out is reasonably safe unless severe signs and symptoms occur. It is also significantly faster than trying a carry. Splint the affected part if possible.

Expect swelling. Remove constricting items such as rings, bracelets, and clothing from the bitten extremity. Do not delay. Immediately following the bite of a snake thought to be poisonous, evacuation should be started. It can always be slowed down or canceled if it becomes obvious that envenomation did not occur, or the snake is not poisonous.

Most medical experts agree that traditional field treatments such as tourniquets, pressure dressing, ice packs, and "cut and suck" snakebite kits are generally ineffective and are possibly dangerous. Poisonous snakebite is one of those conditions that you cannot treat in the field.

Don't waste valuable time trying."

If it is going to be more than one hour to transport, you should consider rinsing and disinfecting the wound.

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