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W von Papineäu
at Tue Aug 23 08:10:32 2005 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by W von Papineäu ]
EVENING GAZETTE (Teesside, UK) 23 August 05 Girl's poison snake terror (Mike Blackburn)
A Teesside couple today relived the terrifying moment they feared their little girl could have died after being bitten by a snake at a local beauty spot.
Billy and Julie Kerr held a four-day vigil at eight-year-old daughter Corinne's bedside after her dramatic encounter with the adder - Britain's only native poisonous snake.
It is believed to be the first time medics at the University Hospital of North Tees have ever treated a snake-bite victim.
Doctors say the little girl's calm and clear description of the snake and her parents' quick response may have saved her life.
Corinne, from Ingleby Barwick, was enjoying a family day out at the Sheepwash, near Osmotherley, on Thursday when she accidentally stood on the adder after playing barefoot in a stream.
She calmly strolled over to tell her dad that a snake had bitten her toe.
At first he didn't believe her - but within minutes his daughter was vomiting and complaining of dizziness. Her toe and then her foot rapidly started to swell.
"She showed me her foot - the bite was about the size of a 2p piece with a drop of blood," said Mr Kerr.
"To my shame, I said 'you've been bitten by something but it won't be a snake'.
"But within a few minutes she said she was feeling dizzy and started throwing up.
"She said 'Daddy, you have to take me to hospital', then she started losing consciousness."
The family sped home to their family doctor, Dr Si Chaudhry, at Beckfields Medical Centre, who immediately gave Corinne a shot of adrenaline, before she was rushed by ambulance to North Tees.
Dr Chaudhry, who has never treated a snake-bite victim in 18 years as a GP, said: "I was very worried for her. She was becoming very ill very quickly.
"I really felt for her parents. Thank God they came here immediately instead of waiting, and thank God Corinne was able to see the snake and describe it to us."
Consultant pediatrician Dr Bruce McLain was one of the medics alerted to meet the young girl as she arrived at North Tees casualty unit.
He said snake venom can cause a "systemic reaction" in the body, which can slow down the heartbeat and reduce blood pressure.
"As well as administering drugs like adrenaline and fluids you just have to wait for the poison to get out of the system," he explained.
It was only yesterday that doctors felt Corinne was well enough to return home, but it could take weeks for her to fully recover from her ordeal.
Today her relieved mum and dad, who have cancelled a planned camping holiday, thanked Dr Chaudhry and the hospital medics.
Mr Kerr, a Huntsman worker, said: "Her pulse was very faint when Dr Chaudhry administered the adrenaline. A doctor at the hospital said if he hadn't done that she might not have made it."
The couple, who have two other children, fired a warning to other families visiting the North Yorkshire beauty spot to be alert to hidden dangers.
"This was a terrifying experience for all our family," said Mr Kerr. "You never dream of this kind of thing happening in this country. I've never even seen an adder and didn't know anyone bitten by one."
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What you should know about adders
The Forestry Commission offers this advice on the adder - the only poisonous snake native to Britain:
* Adders have the most highly developed poison injecting mechanism of all snakes.
* They will use their poison only as a last means of defence, usually if caught or trodden on.
* No-one has died from adder bite in Britain for more than 20 years.
* With proper treatment, the worst effects are usually nausea and drowsiness, followed by severe swelling and bruising.
* Most adders have a dark zigzag running down the length of the spine and an inverted 'V' shape on the neck.
Males are generally white or pale grey with a black zigzag.
Females are a pale brown colour, with a darker brown zigzag. But some adders are entirely black.
Dr Bruce McLain, consultant pediatrician at The University Hospital of North Tees gave the following advice to anyone bitten by a snake: "Contact the emergency services as quickly as possible, and if possible try to get a description of the snake.
"It is certainly not recommended to try to suck out the venom like you see in the movies!"
Girl's poison snake terror
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 GBR Press: Girl's poison snake terror - W von Papineäu, Tue Aug 23 08:10:32 2005
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