Very helpful advice to all of us, especially hikers who might encounter snakes more frequently than on the concreted paths, even though I've seen several in person on the path since movig to Pak Kok two uears ago.
I've shared your advice in the Facebook group Snake Sightings on Lamma and it'll be a Lamma-zine story as well.
Thank you again!
Statistics: Posted by Lamma-Gung — Fri Dec 04, 2015 1:49 pm
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I have no idea how it happened , was not looking at my feet while walking and talking with my husband, until I felt the sharp sting . Nothing much I must say, never thought it was a snake until and turn round to see what got me and saw the snake .
As per my husband's instructions , I sat down and stayed calm (surprisingly!) . I asked him to take a pic of the snake. he called the ambulance and they took me to the clinic . They were super efficient and very friendly !
There they checked my vitals and sent me off to the hospital by helicopter (fantastic ride !!). By then my foot was well swollen and the pain started to kick in . I was at the Eastern Hospital , A&E department . They were also very efficient . after registration etc ... they gave me some well needed pain killer through intravenous injection and also antibiotics .
By then the pain was really excruciating, could not touch my leg at all and every visit from the doctor felt like torture!
Anyways to keep a long story short , they kept me for 4 nights , gave me 3 doses of anti-venom (horrible experience), were going to give me a 4th dose but they run out , no more stock
!Thanks to Pascale's great advice , which I follow to the letter , I actually recovered super fast . Visited the hospital one week later and even the doctor was surprised that I could walk without a walking stick!
As for the details , Pascale has already explained it better than I ever could . The pain, the swelling, IV drips, blood tests .... more pain ...
My heartfelt thanks to the paramedics, the Lamma clinic, the staff in A&E ward in Eastern Hospital , they were all very professional, friendly and helped me stay calm and informed !
HUGE thanks to Pascale for all her advice and support that were essential to my super quick recovery .
Crucial advice : try and get a pic of snake if you ever get bitten or at least a description...this will be a great help to the medical staff.
Statistics: Posted by nono — Fri Dec 04, 2015 12:52 am
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"A person was bit by a mature bamboo viper Wednesday late afternoon and is now at Queen Mary still receiving vials of antivenin to this date.
Happened on main path in direction of sok kwu wan near a site storing construction materials and wid fence. Close to beach. Will post GPS coordinates when available. The animal was aggressive and did not move off path after biting. There could be a nest nearby.
First recommendation is "slow your vitals". See page 13, section 2-4. What is in is applied systematically as advice to anyone who might encounter poisonous snake and in first aid. https://fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm90-5.pdf"
Some good advice from Ronan Keilthy:
"It is definitely not the best idea to kill the snake. It puts you in a lot more danger of another bite, and it is just cruel to kill an animal that just tried to defend itself. If you don't think you can ID a snake, that's what we have iPhones for.
Also, sucking out the venom is not effective in the least. The only thing it does is stop you from getting to hospital quicker. If you are bitten by a venomous snake, there is one simple rule: GET TO MEDICAL ATTENTION. If you do that as quickly as possible, there really is no reason to die from snakebite anywhere (especially Hong Kong).
That viper was not being aggressive. It isn't the warmest in Hong Kong at the moment, and that snake was probably trying to heat up on the path when someone stumbled across it. If the person was bitten anywhere else other than the foot/leg, they were obviously trying to kill or handle it, and the bite is 100% their fault.
Also, there is no such thing as a viper nest. Most vipers (including bamboo pit vipers) give birth to live young. When the babies are born, that's it, they go on their own way. They might hang around the same area for a few days, because any distance is large when you are about 15cm in length."
Statistics: Posted by Lamma-Gung — Tue Nov 10, 2015 2:31 pm
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Thank you for taking the time, and good luck with your recovery.
Statistics: Posted by Boss — Wed Oct 22, 2014 5:10 pm
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Statistics: Posted by Lamma-Gung — Wed Oct 22, 2014 12:02 pm
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"Pit Viper bite - one month later.
This is what to expect:
Pain in the bitten region that still endures and abates very slowly. The venom contains neuro-toxins that damage the nerves in a specific way, creating hypersensitivity. A slight brush or touch on the affected area sends me screaming in pain. It is said to subside within 6 months.
Also, the immune system having been so heavily taxed, one's defenses are low. I have had cold and bronchitis, which I never do. Allergic responses, runny nose, eczema and much more cycle rapidly through any one day; as one symptom disappears, another one appears. Some day to the point of driving me insane, but then, I refuse to take anti-histamines. This fades over 3 weeks.
But the most bizarre has been my compulsive need to eat MEAT. My first seven days out of hospital was all I wanted, all I could eat. It is getting better now, I am kind of back to some veggies! I guess that the body screams to rebuild itself with proteins."
Statistics: Posted by Lamma-Gung — Wed Oct 22, 2014 11:41 am
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Statistics: Posted by balaant2046 — Thu Sep 25, 2014 11:44 pm
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