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What If.......Snake Bite Emergency Protocol!

A group of us were in a conversation last night  discussing one guys Daughter's near death years ago by a snake bite ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bothrops_asper )   By complete luck (in another Country in Central America ) a neighbor had the antivenom.  

This offers great pause.   WHAT IF?  What if,this happened in Boquete.  Can anyone offer suggestions as to where such antivenom kits may be available for any deadly snakes in our area either via emergency services or to be purchased.  I am told one has less than an hour to take action with most deadly snakes, but I am clueless in such circumstances.  

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  • I am still amazed that Boquete and neighboring villages don't have anti venom drugs available at all times!

    Someone should start a demand for EVERYONE  who lives there or visits, to have these drugs available!!!

    They should be in the Pharmacies, grocery stores, gas stations etc etc.  WAKE UP ! Why has this not happened ????????  Somebody DO something about this!

    • Lynne;

      Anti-venom is not innocuous.  Administration can only be correct when knowing the type of snake that has bitten a patient and with supportive care it the bedside---oxygen, fluids, wound care, etc.

      It could be at every clinic as in Boquete.  However, proper storage and expiration of the anti-venom is also an issue.

      So no easy solutions recognizing that the HC infrastructure in Chiriqui can't support all conceivable needs.

      • Oh, please.  Fer de Lance ?  Are there more DEADLY snakes ?  I live in Michigan, and I bet i could be struck by a Cobra and that some nearby Hos'l could get me the antidote I needed !

        How many life threatening snakes does one need to have in the grass for at least a few antidotes to be available ??!!  Sorry, NO EXCUSE !

        • You're missing the point, Lynne. Medical personnel need to know the KIND of snake in order to administer the appropriate venom. Administering any other venom would be dangerous. And administering it without supportive medical care--at "pharmacies, grocery stores, gas stations, etc. etc."-- would be dangerous also. There's much more to it than simply giving an injection.

          • Point taken.  However, Drs. offices in Boquete and other towns should have a variety of antivenom in the office, just in case !  Especially Fer de Lance.  My guess is that most people would be able to ID a snake or at least describe it, if bitten.  I would also think there are procedures that could be done that would help regardless of what kind of varmint it was that bit !  Having/doing nothing seems irresponsible to me, not to mention dangerous.

  • Thank you
  • Helpful information from the retired Fort Worth - NING greeter.

    (Apparently not enough action at the local WALMART)

  • My friend Dr. Julie Ray wrote the only book on snakes in Panama.  Name of the book is "The Venomous Snakes and their mimics of Panama and Costa Rica".   You can buy it on Amazon.  It is in Spanish and English combined.

    A couple years ago she did a talk at the Tues. meeting and Skate World.   

     ~ Stay calm if bit.  If you panic the venom will spread faster through your body.

    ~  Remove jewelry and tight fitting clothing.

    ~  No one dies immediately in Panama from snake bites.  There is time to think clearly

    and seek medical advice.

    ~  Only drink water.

    ~  It's important to have an idea what kind of snake bite you have so you can get the correct anti venom.

    What time was the snake bite?  What color and what pattern?  What was the size of the snake?  Where was the snake? ( grass, beach, on the ground, in a tree, house ect)

    ~Wipe away any venom moving the venom outward not towards the bite.

    ~ Keep the area of the bite below the heart.

    ~DO NOT APPLY A TOURNIQUET TO ANY PORTION OF THE BODY OR ADMINISTER ANY TYPE OF MEDICINE OR RELAXANTS.

    ~If possible call ahead to Regional Hospital in David.  DON'T GO TO CHIRIQUI OR MAE LEWES THEY DON'T HAVE THE VENOM.

    ~Go to the hospital immediately. once you get to the hospital tell them you are a snake bite victim.

    For a Fer-De-Lance an average adult will have appoximately 6 to 8 hours.

    For a coral snake approximately 12 hours to get help.

    • Where is the Regional Hospital in David? Is that the name of it - Regional?
      • It is across from Price Mart, not the children hospital called Obedia it

        is the one right before it called Regional Hospital...in spanish.  That is 

        where we were told the anti venom is.  If anyone else knows if this has changed 

        in the last 2 years please advise.

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