Resources
Educational Resources
Practical information about snakebite, identification, and first response. Drawn from decades of fieldwork in sub-Saharan Africa.
Snakebite First Aid
Do
- ✓ Keep the person calm and still. Movement spreads venom faster
- ✓ Remove jewelry and tight clothing near the bite before swelling starts
- ✓ Immobilize the bitten limb and keep it below heart level
- ✓ Get to a hospital as quickly as possible
- ✓ Note the time of the bite and describe the snake if possible
Do Not
- ✕ Do not cut the wound or attempt to suck out venom
- ✕ Do not apply a tourniquet
- ✕ Do not apply ice or cold packs
- ✕ Do not give the person alcohol or aspirin
- ✕ Do not try to catch the snake. A photo from a safe distance is enough
Medically Significant Snakes of KwaZulu-Natal
Black Mamba
Fast-acting neurotoxic venom. Considered the most dangerous snake in Africa. Can deliver multiple bites in a single strike. Requires immediate medical treatment.
Puff Adder
Responsible for more snakebite fatalities in Africa than any other species. Cytotoxic venom causes severe tissue damage. Relies on camouflage rather than fleeing.
Mozambique Spitting Cobra
Can spit venom up to 3 meters. Primarily cytotoxic. Venom in the eyes causes extreme pain and potential blindness without immediate flushing with water.
Boomslang
Haemotoxic venom disrupts blood clotting. Slow onset but potentially fatal without specific antivenom. Shy and rarely bites unless handled.
Green Mamba
Arboreal species with neurotoxic venom. Less aggressive than the black mamba but still medically significant. Found in coastal and montane forests.
Rinkhals
A spitting cobra that can also feign death. Mixed venom profile (neurotoxic and cytotoxic). Common in grasslands and suburban areas.
External Resources
WHO: Snakebite Envenoming Fact Sheet
Global statistics, epidemiology, and WHO strategy for snakebite prevention
African Snakebite Institute
Snake identification app, first aid courses, and antivenom availability alerts for Southern Africa
U.S. Patent #11,129,857: Antivenom Compositions and Uses Thereof
Full patent documentation for Snake Pharm's biomimicry antivenom method
