Could This Have Been Prevented?

ANOTHER article about ANOTHER person who has died after being bitten by a snake in Nepal - it never ends.

On this occasion a 7 year old girl has lost her life.

This article highlights the need for appropriate snake bite first aid training to be made available to all people in Nepal - if what you read is accurate, the victim was unable to receive treatment on time because there were no doctors at the hospital.

Could appropriate first aid training have prevented this young death?

What A Horrible Read

Just reading this article from Nepal where an 18 month old child has died after being bitten by a snake while playing in his front yard.

These types of articles are almost impossible to imagine while we sit in the comfort of our homes watching our children play in our yards.

It makes you realise just how lucky we are.

Another Successful Snake Awareness Session

Balanced with Wildlife presented a 4 hour Snake Awareness Session to staff at the District Council of Mallala today and it was a resounding success!! Julian Craig was the presenter at the session and the feedback is already back on how good the presentation was.

One attendee writes -

"Riveting experience. Julian was the best and most interesting course instructor we have had in the last 10 years. The subject was very pertinent to our rural area with snakes an issue we have to deal with in our everyday lives. SENSATIONAL! Thank you"

Just to prove that we are being impartial, here is the "worst" comment we received (and there were over 20 feedback forms received) -

"Top course. Not boring and learnt a lot. Very interesting"!!!!

Well done Julian - if the comment above is the "worst" we ever get, then we have nothing to worry about!!

Just another example of the level of professionalism you receive when Balanced with Wildlife conducts a course for you - if there is a chance that your staff could ever come into contact with a snake in their workplace contact us and we will be happy to provide you with training or awareness sessions that are second to none.

The Tragedy In Pakistan

I am just reading this article from Pakistan with a very heavy heart - it discusses the increase in deaths by snake bite to children in Pakistan due of the unavailability of antivenin because of the current floods.

This issue is very close to the hearts of Directors of Balanced with Wildlife because a close friend of ours, now living in Australia but originally from Pakistan, has family still living there who are currently raising donations to help the Pakistani people in the flood ravaged areas - fortunately our friend's family's region was not affected by the floods.

Our thoughts go out to the Pakistani people affected by these floods and we hope that as much antivenin as you require to save the children and anyone else bitten by a snake is not far away.

Another Brilliant Presentation

Julian Craig from Balanced with Wildlife conducted another brilliant 4 hour Snake Awareness Session yesterday, this time for the Adelaide Hills Council.

Here's some feedback that has already been received on the session -

"Julian -- Excellent snake awareness course this morning at Heathfield Depot, much appreciated.

I would be grateful if you would send me the details of the Norton Summit meeting you mentioned, to be held on Sept 21.

Cheers

Brian"

and here is Julian's response -

"Hi Brian

Thanks for the feedback.

The session I spoke to you about is a Community Snake Awareness Session being held at the Norton Summit Natural Resource Centre, 1 Crescent Drive, Norton Summit (easterly, across the road from the Norton Summit Hotel).

Date is 21st of September 2010 and it starts at 7pm and will go until about 9.30pm.

All are welcome.

Contact Val Hunt on 8390 1891 for more info"

If you live in Adelaide and are interested in this subject, give Val Hunt at the Norton Summit Natural Resource Centre a call to attend the session on the 21st of September - it will give you a fascinating insight into these largely misunderstood creatures.

Check Out Living with Wildlife USA!!!!

After a heap of work and many - MANY - long hours, Living with Wildlife has finally launched it's USA website!!!

Check it out - there is a heap of information on snakes of the United States and a snake bite first aid sheet specific to the region can be downloaded free of charge.

An e-Book is soon to be released and you can even do an Online Snake Awareness course specific to snakes of the region.

While the e-Book is in the process of being published, you can buy the Online Snake Awareness course for a 60% reduction in price - you even get a Certificate of Completion at the end of it, so it is well worth considering doing the course before the price goes up if you have an interest in this subject and want to learn more about the behaviour of snakes from the USA.

An Indication Of The Size Of The Problem

Just have a read of this article to get an idea of the size of the problem of snake bite incidents in Nepal.

Conservatively estimated at 20,000 snake bites a year resulting in 1,000 deaths!!!!!

Can you imagine living somewhere where 20,000 people were bitten by snakes a year and 1,000 of these people died as a result?

I can't.

Another Snake Bite Death

Just reading this article and this article about two separate deaths by snake bite in Nepal - this time a 45 year old man and an 11 year old child.

These deaths seem like a daily event - what a way to have to live your life.

Snake Bite Increase in India

I have just been reading this article from India which highlights the increase in snake bite deaths when monsoons cause floods that destroy the snake's natural habitat.

There are interesting comments by a college Head of Zoology and it is well worth a read if you are interested in this topic.

Another Death By Snake Bite

Just reading this article about another death by snake bite in Nepal - this time a 53 year old woman - very sad.