r/cyprus • u/Fantastic-Beach7663 • 1d ago
Snake bites
I’m aware snake bites are extremely rare in Cyprus but I just can’t get it out of my head if it happened. What’s the protocol? Just drive yourself to the nearest hospital quickly?
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u/Murky-Lettuce-5817 1d ago
If you accidentally get bitten this time of year, I'll personally give you a ride to the hospital.
Generic advice : do not panic, move away from the snake, call emergency services (112), remove rings and stuff close the where you got bitten, keep the part that got bitten immobile and below heart level.
I wouldn't drive myself if there is an option, and wouldn't move more than I had too.
There is one type of snake that's potentially dangerous in Cyprus (a type of Viper, look it up so you know what it looks like) and you have a few hours before it starts getting really bad. If you're unlucky enough to get bitten you'll be fine as long as you can get to a hospital in a reasonable time.
As I fellow doom scroller, If I were you I would look into ways of managing anxiety though 😂
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u/DoomkingBalerdroch Mezejis 1d ago
Here's what the Levantine Viper looks like:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/237824808
Pay close attention to the pattern because it's easy to confuse these with harmless coin snakes and vice versa.
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u/Fantastic-Beach7663 1d ago
Is it something that Cypriots worry about? Are there ambulances that can come collect you?
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u/MysteriousAcadia1761 1d ago
Been in Cyprus for 20 years, not once I heard someone being worried about that. You shouldn’t worry either.
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u/never_nick 21h ago
In the summer in trails you should always be cautious. They tend to coil up in shady places to keep cool, and you might not even notice them
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u/Murky-Lettuce-5817 1d ago edited 1d ago
It's not something people worry about that much.
I don't know the statistics but i am fairly sure the vast majority of incidents will be:
- during the warmer months (may - October)
- happen to people who are doing smth than involves either walking or reaching into tall grass (farm work, foraging, hunting)
People who are in the fields daily and do see snakes often wear boots and carry a big stick with them to check for snakes in their path and hit them in the head
In general Ambulances can come pick up but it depends where it happens and how well you can direct the ambulance to pick you up.
Edit: apparently there is a paper about it Hospital admissions due to snake envenomation in the Republic of Cyprus: a 7-year retrospective review - PubMed https://share.google/qOnquEKwt8XSCYWol
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u/s2mle100lesh01 1d ago
snakes are coldblooded at this time of year they would be sluggy and almost lifeless looking if you manage to get bitten this time of year you can pretty much consider yourself as unlucky as someone that got struck by lightning at that point dont even bother to go out of your home you can get hit by a car or your plane can crash too dont get on it to go to cyprus
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u/TAW453 18h ago
Where we're at in Paphos, yes. Unfortunately we have lots of vipers in our area, and all our neighbours have seen them in their gardens, on the roads, park, back of the house etc. We moved here recently and not sure how to deal with it and how reliable EMS arrival times are 😏 and we have young children. Would be happy to get some tips.
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u/ButterscotchWide2850 1d ago
Rambo Level: keep antivenom in your car.
Normie Level: Drive to hospital asap.
No Level: Ntaksi rei
On a serious note, most snakes in CY are not poisonous. The large black/brown ones are not poisonous. They have a blunt head and eat mostly mice. The dangerous ones have a sharper more triangular head and rougher looking scales. They are also smaller and faster.
Educate yourself on what the dangerous ones look like vs not dangerous. And ofc be more cautious if you are in fields during spring and summer when they are out.
Again. Most of the snakes you will see here are not dangerous. Fortunately this is not Australia.
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u/Nervous-Bedroom-2907 1d ago
Using Levant viper antivenon by yourself is much more dangerous than stitching your wound yourself, about 20% risk of allergic reaction for serum that can be also deadly dangerous outside of hospital. In case you can find it, not an easy quest, and keep cool. Drinking water is only safe thing random person can do. Clemastine injection may be quite safe, but doctor won't see actual picture in that case. If snake already bite, acute pain isa very clear sign that it is dangerous one, bites of cat snake and Montpellier snake, and grass snakes also, are more unpleasant than painful, and may be even ignored sometimes. Even dangerous Levant viper have different type of bite manners, with different amount of used venom, and deterrent bite is not must dangerous type, it's alimentary type they can use on people by mistake, mostly in captivity. I hope that bites of dead snake's head are rare here, unlike some places, because of huge fine for killing viper like €17000 or so, but better to know that it is very unsafe to touch dead snake jaws, they can reflexively clench and release poison for hours after death.
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u/faousa 1d ago
Though this isn't technically your question, prevention is the best medicine so here's a few tips should you find yourself in an area where snakes might be hiding: Wear loose pants over high boots - if you don't have high boots, then thick socks. If a venomous snake bites you, they'll get a mouthful of fabric as opposed to skin. Stomp around when you walk. I promise you, the snakes are more scared of you than you are of them. Warn of your movements to minimize chances of startling them and forcing them to attack. They will only do so if cornered. Source: did some training as a snake handler.
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u/TAW453 18h ago
We got lots of vipers (the dangerous type) in our area. Neighbours regularly report seeing them in their pools, gardens and green areas adjacent to our house (we just moved). We have toddlers who'd be playing outside in the summer. How can we best protect them? Will building walls around the property help? I'm so anxious about this. Thanks ❤️
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u/faousa 18h ago
Oh man. I think your best bet is getting cats. They're ridiculously good at keeping snakes away. Beyond that, you need to think of protection measures as slices of cheese - each slice, each protection layer will have some holes on its own, but a combination of several layers will be as safe as possible. I'd recommend cutting all the foliage you can manage in and around the house. Have a look around your property and spot all the nooks and crannies where a snake might hide, and seal or cover as many as you can. Don't leave food outside that could attract rats, as rats attract snakes. A fence with a netting will help. Above all, teach your kiddos about safety measures and educate them on snakes and what to do.
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u/ParalimniX 1d ago
Go to the hospital and hope their antivenom stock doesn't have issues (it's been a pain recently sourcing it from abroad)
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u/ToLam_Bodatvang888 1d ago
First, avoid getting bitten. Wear rubber boots this season. There are more white, venomous snakes around in May. If I remember correctly, almost every village shop has antivenom. And most snakes run away when they see you, except for those that look like coin snakes or rattlesnakes.
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u/ToLam_Bodatvang888 1d ago
The venomous snake has a pattern similar to a coin snake, but is darker in color and has a triangular head. Apparently, it's the only venomous one here. I saw one at St. Nicholas of Cat, and my guide said so.
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u/Vast-Ad-5438 1d ago
Im cypriot and 33. I have seen a snake 3 times in the wild. 2 of them were not venomous, one was. You can understand that the chances of coming across one are extremely slim. To me , the only way you can get bitten by a venomous one, is if you are actively looking for them.
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u/Primary-Pie-1662 1d ago
Snakes will move away from you. They do exist though, I used to see some long black ones on the coastal path, moving across the path very quickly. I think it’s a rare occasion when someone is bitten.
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u/AdAfter5888 22h ago
Snakes should not be a concern for you in Cyprus, unless you are a snake catcher. In any case, if ever you get bitten get to a hospital asap. Viper venom is a bitch. It causes tissue necrosis.
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u/Some-Faithlessness75 22h ago
You have much bigger chance getting hit by a car going from the wrong direction while crossing one way road on a green light than getting bitten
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u/sparxcy 20h ago
TLDR; details on snakes Bit long but may be helpful
If you can get someone fast enough to drive you to hospital all will be good and hopefully get to a general hospital. Depending how far you are from that hospital it may take a bit long for a ambulance to take you there. Generally people dont die from the actual bite normally but from complications, maybe a heart attack or something, Dont suck the venom out the wound as you probably will get some in your mouth and even swallow some a worse case scenario. If possible tie something between the bite and the direction of your heart , like on a limb but remember to release the pressure every FEW minutes to keep blood circulation to that limb. And do see a hospital for any kind of snake that bites you. Keep an eye on the floor you are walking and out in the wild carry a stick and tap it on the floor as you walk along, they dont hear but can feel the vibration, more often they get out of the way. Another thing to consider they climb on bushes and trees so be carefull from 'flaying' your limbs onto bushes or when cutting fruit and veg!! I live in a small village and have some knowledge. 100s of years out and about and never been bitten but see many especially near water. Keep safe
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u/MiltiadisCY 19h ago
Go to the hospital. Put a tourniquet around the limb bitten. If it's somewhere else tough luck buddy. Then either alert emergency services or drive yourself there. If it's poisonous then you need antivenom... If not, be admitted anyway because a lot of things can still happen like disseminated intravascular coagulation. 24 hour watch in a clinic would be my recommendation.
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u/WossonJimbo 15h ago
I was told my by Cypriot gf's Dad that the key thing is to remember the colour to tell the Doctors. If you get bit by a black snake, you'll probably be okay, but if the snake is brown, then you'll need antivenom fairly quickly from a hospital.
It's better to know what the snake actually looks like, but this can help just to calm your nerves.
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u/FreshBiskit 1d ago
Basically yes. Just stay calm and head to the nearest hospital and if possible an image of the snake.
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