First two national snakebite consensus meeting papers
Introductory editorial: Snakebite CME series
T C Hardcastle
This introduction and editorial addresses the latest approaches to safe management of snakebite in South Africa (SA), and shares the evidence and expert consensus from the recent SA Snakebite
Symposium (SASS) meeting held in July 2022.
Approach to the diagnosis and management of snakebite envenomation in South Africa in humans: Layperson aspects and the role of emergency medical services
T C Hardcastle, MMed, PhD | M Kajee, Dip Trauma Nursing | K Lachenicht, MSc, HSc (EMC) | N van der Walt, BTech (EMC)
South Africa (SA) has over 170 species of snakes, but of these, around 20 comprise the ‘dangerous and deadly’ category. Regarding management of snake envenomation, the World Health Organization (WHO) Africa document is now more than 10 years old, covers aspects of management that are not specific to SA and mentions treatment options that may no longer be accepted or available.
This paper focuses on the human treatment guidelines to be used by the layperson when confronted with a snakebite and the role of the emergency medical services in emergency care and transport of the snakebite victim. What we mean by the layperson is the nonprofessional ‘first-aider’ level.