Snakebite: What Actually Saves Lives? — Venom, First Aid & Survival

Episode 41 of ParaPodcast.

In this episode of ParaPodcast, we sit down with Emergency Care Practitioner and snake educator Nick van der Walt to discuss snakebite, venom, first aid and emergency treatment. Together with Malusi Mtetwa, Elias Thomas and Thulani Sibanda, we explore: • Black mambas, puff adders, boomslangs and other snakes • Neurotoxic, cytotoxic and haemotoxic venom • Snake identification and clinical syndromes • Why snakebite is a medical emergency • Pressure immobilisation and the risks of tourniquets • Antivenom and choosing the appropriate hospital • Common and potentially dangerous first-aid myths • Venom exposure to the eyes • Nick’s own Uracoan rattlesnake bite • African snakebite research and prehospital guidelines We also discuss the importance of developing emergency-care education and clinical guidance that reflect African environments, evidence and snake species. Learn more about Nick’s training organisation, Access Professional Development: https://accesspd.co.za/ FOLLOW PARAPODCAST: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Parapodcast3 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parapodcast3/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@parapodcast3 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CH8CM8dna/ Website: https://parapodcast.show/ CHAPTERS: 00:00 Fine until it isn’t — cold open 00:13 ParaPodcast introduction 00:23 Welcome and guest introduction 03:21 Nick’s journey into snake education 05:36 Snakebite symposiums and medical misinformation 09:49 The snakes Nick brought to university 10:53 What to do when a snake enters your home 14:57 Neurotoxic, cytotoxic and haemotoxic venom 18:29 Why snakebite is a medical emergency 19:50 What ambulance crews often get wrong 21:39 Nick’s Uracoan rattlesnake bite 28:00 Choosing the right hospital 30:51 The National Snakebite Advisory Group 33:40 Finding a trained snake catcher 34:51 Antivenom and snakebite syndromes 38:57 Puff adders, venom yield and tissue damage 47:00 Practical first aid and tourniquet cautions 49:17 What to do when venom enters the eyes 50:49 Dangerous snakebite myths 53:05 A real black-mamba tourniquet case 55:04 The snakebite-management paper and its authors 56:23 Nick’s training and consultation work 57:55 Why African paramedic education needs local context This episode is for education and discussion and does not replace local emergency protocols or advice from a qualified healthcare professional. If you suspect a snakebite, activate emergency medical services and seek urgent hospital care. Please subscribe to ParaPodcast and share this episode with a paramedic, emergency-care student, clinician or snake-safety professional. #Snakebite #Paramedicine #EmergencyMedicine #BlackMamba #Antivenom #EMS #ParaPodcast

For the full conversation, use the player above. The audio version is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and any podcast app via our public feed.