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[Snakes Incorporated]

Mamba Bite Schoolboy survives.

DAILY NEWS (Durban, S Africa) 08 November 05 Schoolboy survives lethal snake bite (Barbara Cole)

A 15-year-old Durban schoolboy has survived an encounter with a deadly three metre black mamba.

But Sibusiso Mseswa would have died if his school had not reacted quickly and immediately called in an ambulance, whose crew then brought in a helicopter to fly him to hospital.
“You’ve only got 20 minutes before you stop breathing,” said paramedic Asogan Edward, who was on board the Red Cross Air Mercy helicopter – which is contracted to the provincial health authority – which flew the boy to Addington Hospital.
The drama unfolded at Blackburn Primary School in Mount Edgecombe, when Sibusiso was playing soccer.

Although the grass was “quite short”, Sibusiso did not see the snake and stood on it. He was bitten on the sole of the foot.
“The school immediately called an ambulance from Phoenix and it got to the school within seven minutes,” said Edward.

Then, while paramedics applied a tourniquet to prevent the blood circulating around his body, they called in the helicopter, which took 10 minutes to get there from its base at Durban International Airport.
By then, a fellow pupil had killed the snake with a stone. Although Sibusiso had some difficulty breathing as a result of the attack, he was still conscious.
The patient was given anti-venom at Addington and is now in the hospital’s surgical intensive care unit in a stable condition.

[Snakes Incorporated]

Black Mamba
 
Do you want to know just how deadly a black mamba's venom is? Check out our venom fast facts.


How toxic is it?
As little as two drops of venom can kill a person and a mamba can have up to 20 drops of venom in its fangs.
What's in it?
Black mamba venom contains neurotoxins and cardiotoxins. Neurotoxins cause damage to the nervous system, such as parts of the brain controlling motor functions, while cardiotoxins attack the heart.
What are its effects?
If you are unfortunate enough to be bitten by a black mamba, you are likely to experience the following side effects:
·  Slight local swelling and/or pain, described as burning;
·  Drooping or heavy eyelids;
·  Loss of control of tongue or jaw;
·  Slurred speech;
·  Mental confusion;
·  Blurred vision and dilated pupils;
·  Paralysis of all muscle groups;
·  Loss of tendon reflex;
·  Drowsiness;
·  Respiratory distress.
The bite is life-threatening if these symptoms appear within an hour of the bite. Failing lungs, convulsions and coma precede death.
Is it always fatal?
Not all black mamba bites are fatal. It depends on how much venom was injected and where. If the venom has gotten directly into the bloodstream and not into surrounding tissue, it could be fatal. Survival is also dependent upon how fast treatment is administered after a bite. Immediate hospitalization is instrumental. There is a black mamba antivenin, but some may be allergic. In some cases allowing the human body to heal itself, with immediate medical care, is the best course of action. Paralysis can completely disappear with no after effects. As it turns out, black mamba venom can only paralyze temporarily. After about 12 hours, the venom molecules start to dislodge and are flushed out of the body's system.

[Rickin]

    thanks !!

 I learned how deadly a black mamba's venom is today !!

[Snakes Incorporated]

The Cape Cobra is also neurotoxin will give a victim the same symptoms.