Snakes alive! Cases of unwelcome visitors to houses in Thailand on the rise

[webfact]

Snakes alive! Cases of unwelcome visitors to houses in Thailand on the rise

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Thai Rath published a feature story on the issue of snakes invading people's homes in Thailand. 

 

They spoke to construction engineers and a university vet who gave the benefit of their advice.

 

This might save people from the ignominy of being bitten on the rear end as has happened in several high profile cases recently. 

 

One man needed 15 stitches to his sexual organs after a two meter python bit him in Soi Pradit Manutham 5 in Bangkok. 

 

While a woman who had the presence of mind to grab and hold onto a three meter serpent in Bang Pakong was bitten on the posterior and left hand. 

 

These incidents are just the tip of the iceberg, however, said the Thai media. Problems exist both in Bangkok and up country.

 

Cases of snakes invading human spaces are running into tens of thousands per year and are on the rise. 

 

Construction experts blamed broken pipes, poor design and bad positioning of toilet pipes and improperly installed septic tanks.

 

While the Kaset University vet said that people encroached on animal habitats and you could hardly blame the snakes. 

 

They often thought that toilet pipes were rat or mouse holes and were looking for food. 

 

When bottoms got in the way the snakes were merely trying to eat. 

 

Statistics for calls to the authorities about snakes are going up and up. 

 

In 2014 there were 16,920 calls. But by last year this had increased to 34,354.

 

There have been 30,647 calls recorded this year in the latest count.

 

October seems to be a particularly bad month with more than 4,000 calls in some years. 

 

So what to do if a snake pays you a visit? Help is at hand!

 

Thai Rath said that most people don't know that you can call the National Park office on their hotline on 1362.

 

Local rescue foundations or firemen can also be contacted on 199. 

 

Source: Thai Rath

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-11-14

[Jan Van Caeyzeele]

Bbrrrrrr.........

[mok199]

I see a reality show ,or mabey a guest spot on Ellen...

[Phuketshrew]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

One man needed 15 stitches to his sexual organs after a two meter python bit him in Soi Pradit Manutham 5 in Bangkok.

I've never been bitten in Soi Pradit Manutham but I can imagine it must be quite painful!

[keith101]

I've had a snake in the kitchen a scorpion in the bedroom but never a snake in the toilet . 

[Misterwhisper]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

While the Kaset University vet said that people encroached on animal habitats and you could hardly blame the snakes. 

Many don't like to hear it, but there is truth in that vet's words. WE are the invaders, not the other way round.

[cyberfarang]

The reason snakes are coming into homes is because people are destroying their habitat and being pushed into populated areas.

 

It is humans that are the problem, not the snakes.

[Ossy]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Help is at hand!

 

Thai Rath said that most people don't know that you can call the National Park office on their hotline on 1362.

 

Local rescue foundations or firemen can also be contacted on 199.

Gee thanks for that but, since I'll somehow have top crawl past this King Cobra to get to my phone to call the National Park office or the fire station, I think I'll be dead by the time they get here. On the positive side, they will be able to help the Mrs carry my snake-bitten remains downstairs . . . so mustn't grumble.

[pikao]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

In 2014 there were 16,920 calls. But by last year this had increased to 34,354.

Maybe because everyone has a cell phone by now

[Ossy]

1 hour ago, keith101 said:

I've had a snake in the kitchen a scorpion in the bedroom but never a snake in the toilet . 

One day, Keith. Just be patient . . . there are only so many bums they can bite in the adderverage day.

[sirocco]

Hello,
we have deforested a lot next to my home, cut off from tall trees.
No more birdsongs and squirrels.
But a few days later, there were snakes and centipedes.
Now, as soon as the Thais mow the ground in their own way,
  there are still snakes that come on the terraces

[Catoni]

33 minutes ago, cyberfarang said:

The reason snakes are coming into homes is because people are destroying their habitat and being pushed into populated areas.

 

It is humans that are the problem, not the snakes.

   I think you're wrong..     Not because we are destroying their habitat.  

  I bet Gore Bull Wa.....  er..sorry.. I mean Global Warming has something to do with it.  The snakes are coming in houses to cool off. 

Edited November 14, 2018 by Catoni
Correction

[marko kok prong]

Clingfilm?

[john11k]

The snake thinks it's his house, the pipe, 

if somebody s**t in my house I'd bit them on the ass to. !!

[sirocco]

hello post catoni ,,

not at all, I observed an upsurge of snakes or other creeping beasts when the Thais cut, rather salopé, the trees and other bushes which served as shelter with multitudes of birds, insects or other fauna and flora.

[dunroaming]

3 hours ago, keith101 said:

I've had a snake in the kitchen a scorpion in the bedroom but never a snake in the toilet . 

I've had a toad in the hole, a snake in the grass a dog or two in bed but never a snake in the toilet either ????

[SunsetT]

What a bummer!

[GreasyFingers]

3 hours ago, cyberfarang said:

The reason snakes are coming into homes is because people are destroying their habitat and being pushed into populated areas.

 

It is humans that are the problem, not the snakes.

Yes, we should kill all the humans!????

[connda]

Neighbor removed a 2 meter cobra that was under the top blanket on their kid's bed.  Then removed another from the house about two months later. 
With four dogs, the cobras don't get as far as the porches around the house, and if smart they don't come in the fence at all.  I've watched the Mrs literally sweep them across the highway in front of our house with a broom.  I'm a little more for dispatching them permanent as is my oldest male dog as I'm not convinced that the same ones aren't returning.  Just a part of living in the Land of Snakes. 

[zzaa09]

5 hours ago, Misterwhisper said:

Many don't like to hear it, but there is truth in that vet's words. WE are the invaders, not the other way round.

Especially the foreign type, whom make much too much of such everyday things - conditioning themselves in a perfect little white castle protected existence....

[slappy]

Some very handy information if you are bitten

Snake Bites in Australia

That bite of summer has well and truly come early this year and with that heat, comes snakes.

3000 bites are reported annually. 
300-500 hospitalisations
2-3 deaths annually.

Average time to death is 12 hours. The urban myth that you are bitten in the yard and die before you can walk from your chook pen back to the house is a load of rubbish.

While not new, the management of snake bite (like a flood/fire evacuation plan or CPR) should be refreshed each season.

Let’s start with a 
Basic overview.

There are five genus of snakes that will harm us (seriously)
Browns, Blacks, Adders, Tigers and Taipans.

All snake venom is made up of huge proteins (like egg white). When bitten, a snake injects some venom into the meat of your limb (NOT into your blood).

This venom can not be absorbed into the blood stream from the bite site.

It travels in a fluid transport system in your body called the lymphatic system (not the blood stream).

Now this fluid (lymph) is moved differently to blood. 
Your heart pumps blood around, so even when you are lying dead still, your blood still circulates around the body. Lymph fluid is different. It moves around with physical muscle movement like bending your arm, bending knees, wriggling fingers and toes, walking/exercise etc.

Now here is the thing. Lymph fluid becomes blood after these lymph vessels converge to form one of two large vessels (lymphatic trunks)which are connected to veins at the base of the neck.

Back to the snake bite site.
When bitten, the venom has been injected into this lymph fluid (which makes up the bulk of the water in your tissues).

The only way that the venom can get into your blood stream is to be moved from the bite site in the lymphatic vessels. The only way to do this is to physically move the limbs that were bitten.

Stay still!!! Venom can’t move if the victim doesn’t move.
Stay still!!

Remember people are not bitten into their blood stream.

In the 1980s a technique called Pressure immobilisation bandaging was developed to further retard venom movement. It completely stops venom /lymph transport toward the blood stream.

A firm roll bandage is applied directly over the bite site (don’t wash the area).

Technique:
Three steps: keep them still
Step 1
Apply a bandage over the bite site, to an area about 10cm above and below the bite.
Step 2:
Then using another elastic roller bandage, apply a firm wrap from Fingers/toes all the way to the armpit/groin.

The bandage needs to be firm, but not so tight that it causes fingers or toes to turn purple or white. About the tension of a sprain bandage.

Step 3:
Splint the limb so the patient can’t walk or bend the limb.

Do nots:
Do not cut, incise or suck the venom.
Do not EVER use a tourniquet 
Don’t remove the shirt or pants - just bandage over the top of clothing.
Remember movement (like wriggling out of a shirt or pants) causes venom movement.

DO NOT try to catch, kill or identify the snake!!! This is important.

In hospital we NO LONGER NEED to know the type of snake; it doesn’t change treatment.

5 years ago we would do a test on the bite, blood or urine to identify the snake so the correct anti venom can be used. 
BUT NOW...
we don’t do this. Our new Antivenom neutralises the venoms of all the 5 listed snake genus, so it doesn’t matter what snake bit the patient.

Read that again- one injection for all snakes! 
Polyvalent is our one shot wonder, stocked in all hospitals, so most hospitals no longer stock specific Antivenins.

Australian snakes tend to have 3 main effects in differing degrees.

Bleeding - internally and bruising.
Muscles paralysed causing difficulty talking, moving & breathing.
Pain
In some snakes severe muscle pain in the limb, and days later the bite site can break down forming a nasty wound.

Allergy to snakes is rarer than winning lotto twice.

Final tips: not all bitten people are envenomated and only those starting to show symptoms above are given antivenom.

Did I mention to stay still.

[marcusarelus]

Does Thailand now have the one shot fits all stuff?

[slappy]

12 minutes ago, marcusarelus said:

Does Thailand now have the one shot fits all stuff?

You probably know the answer to that. As Australia is a rather more developed country. Especially with numerous venomous creatures they have.

[marcusarelus]

14 minutes ago, slappy said:

You probably know the answer to that. As Australia is a rather more developed country. Especially with numerous venomous creatures they have.

No I don't know the answer and that's why I asked.  Does Thailand have the one shot fits all snake anti venom shot?  But since you are the typical anti poster I looked it up.  I imagine Australia gets it anti venom from Thailand.

 

Scientists in Thailand have found a way to make a single antivenom that works against 18 species of snake found in Asia and Africa. The team maintains that their version will be more affordable and more widely useful, helping to bring antivenom to the resource-strapped regions that need it most. https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/05/160503-snake-bite-antivenom-asia-africa-animals/

 

 

Edited November 14, 2018 by marcusarelus

[fakename]

Thanks Slappy! I hope Thailand is up to date, with this one shot antivenom. Is this antivenom just for Australian snakes or others, like cobras or others around here?

[Ulic]

One of the benefits of living on the 8th floor of a condo. I don't have to worry about this happening to me. 

[Nyezhov]

Think of how many rats there would be if there werent any snakes

[lamyai3]

12 hours ago, Phuketshrew said:

I've never been bitten in Soi Pradit Manutham but I can imagine it must be quite painful!

Indeed - it was Soi Pradit Manutham 5, which indicates it was a bleeder... 

[lamyai3]

4 hours ago, slappy said:

The bandage needs to be firm, but not so tight that it causes fingers or toes to turn purple or white.

Any specific advice on when it goes for the testicles, as per the unlucky chap mentioned in the article? 

[Nyezhov]

7 hours ago, lamyai3 said:

Any specific advice on when it goes for the testicles, as per the unlucky chap mentioned in the article? 

Dude thats a visual no one here wants.