SNAKE

CORPOR ATE SOUTH AFRICA

AWARENESS,
FIRST AID
FOR SNAKEBITE

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& VENOMOUS
SNAKE HANDLING

COURSES

www. AFRICANSNAKEBITEINSTITUTE .com

SNAKE awareness,
first aid for snakebite
& VENOMOUS snake

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HANDLING COURSES
W H AT I S CO V E R E D I N T H E

www. AFRICANSNAKEBITEINSTITUTE .com

O N E D AY CO U R S E ?

Spider Bite and First Aid Treatment

•
Scorpion Sting and First Aid Treatment
•
Snake Behaviour and Biology
•
Myths and Superstition
•
Encounters with Snakes
•
Prevention of Snakebite
•
First Aid for Snakebite
•
Discussion on the Use of Antivenom
•
Discussion on Medical Treatment of Snakebite
•
Venomous Snake Handling
 WHY USE THE
AFRICAN SNAKEBITE
INSTITUTE?
C ourses are presented by Johan Marais, one of Africa’s leading
herpetologists with over 40 years’ experience.

Johan is the most prominent author of snake books in Africa and

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has written the best-sellers A Complete Guide to Snakes of Southern

Africa, Snakes and Snakebite in Southern Africa and First Aid for
Snakebite, to mention just a few.

The African Snakebite Institute is affiliated with the Alexander Herp

Lab, University of Witwatersrand, and a service provider to the South
African Society of Travel Medicine and Travel Doctor.

The ASI snakebite protocols and first aid for snakebite procedures
are regularly updated with leading snakebite experts in the world.
 WHY USE ASI?

Safe snake handling protocols were de-

veloped while working as curator at some
of Africa’s leading snake parks and as a
result of visits to various reptile parks and
research facilities in the USA, Mexico, U.K.,

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Spain, France, The Netherlands, Belgium,
China, Singapore, Thailand, Australia and
various African countries.

The ASI courses are FGASA-endorsed, ac-

credited by the International Society of

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Zoological Sciences and registered with the
Health Professions Council of South Africa.

Johan is the snake expert for the Tygerberg Poison Centre and the
Red Cross Poison Centre as well as advisor to various hospitals and
clinics throughout Africa.

Snake Awareness courses fall under the requirements of

the Occu­p ational Health and Safety Act (Act 85 of 1993),
Section 8 (1) and (2) E and it is imperative that such train-
ing is provided by an ac­c redited service provider.

Courses are regularly offered to the likes of Sasol, Eskom, Depart-

ment of Water Affairs, Umgeni Water, Master Drilling, Group 5, Anglo
American, De Beers, Wilderness Safaris, Wind Farms, Siemens, Singita
and various mines and construction companies throughout Africa.
 THE PROGRAM
SNAKES
Venomous snakes are provided for the training and will include
species appropriate for the region such as the Puff Adder, Snouted
Cobra, Rinkhals and Forest Cobra (but will vary).

Snake Awareness
www. AFRICANSNAKEBITEINSTITUTE .com

It is a 2 – 3 hour program that includes a section on the major

groups of scorpions, prevention of stings, the do’s and don’ts of
basic first aid for scorpion sting, spider awareness, the dangerous
spiders and first aid, bee sting, snake awareness, snake biology and
behaviour, myths and superstition, identification of snakes in the
area, basic first aid for snakebite and a discussion on the medical
treatment of snakebite.

Juvenile
Boomslang
 THE PROGRAM

FIRST AID
FOR SNAKEBITE
The do’s and don’ts of first aid for snakebite are covered

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in the Snake Awareness course as well as a discussion on
the medical treatment of snakebite. The latter segment
is purely to enlighten delegates so that they fully understand how
medical doctors treat snakebite and what can be done during first
aid to assist with subsequent treatment.

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VENOMOUS
SNAKE HANDLING
The afternoon session for
those that are also doing
venomous snake handling,
lasts about two hours (de-
pending on the size of the
group) and delegates are
taught how to safely cap-
ture and contain venomous
snakes using snake tongs,
snake hooks, snake tubes
and snake buckets. At no
stage does anyone catch
snakes by the tail or behind
the neck. The purpose of this
segment is to teach people
how to cope with and safely
remove venomous snakes in
an emergency situation.
 ADDITIONAL
COURSES
ADVANCED FIRST AID
FOR SNAKEBITE
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This training is not part of the Snake Awareness and Ven-

omous Snake Handling course and includes training on
how to apply pressure immobilisation bandages and the
use of a bag valve mask reserve with and/or without oxygen. It is a
half day course and successful delegates receive a certificate in Ad-
vanced First Aid for Snakebite.
 ADDITIONAL COURSES

SNAKE HANDLING
EQUIPMENT
Recommendations will be made as to what equip-

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ment is required when capturing and relocating
snakes. We have a full range of snake handling
equipment as well as Bag Valve Masks, posters,
books, scorpion torches
and snake gaiters.

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CERTIFICATES
The courses are FGASA (Field Guides Association of Southern Africa)
approved and accredited by ISZS (International Society of Zoological
Sciences). Johan Marais is also an instructor for the Emergency Care and
Safety Institute. Courses are presented to the South African Society
of Travel Medicine and Travel Doctor, amongst others. Successful can-
didates are awarded a certificate in Snake Awareness and First Aid
for Snakebite whereas those also doing the snake handling receive
a certificate in Snake Awareness, First Aid for Snakebite and Venom-
ous Snake Handling. The Snake Awareness course is registered with
the Health Professions Council of South Africa and registered medical
practitioners received 4 CPD points (Level 2).
 ADDITIONAL COURSES

COURSE MATERIAL
Each delegate receives Snake Awareness notes, a First Aid for Snake-
bite booklet and an A3 Dangerous Snakes of Southern Africa poster.

COSTS
Snake Awareness and Venomous Snake Handling costs R1, 500.00
(VAT included) per delegate with a minimum of 12 Delegates.
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For Snake Awareness alone the charge per person is R850.00 (VAT
included). Minimum 15 delegates.

Advanced First Aid for Snakebite costs R995.00 (VAT included) per
delegate with a minimum of 10 delegates.

Travel from and to Pretoria is charged at R4.50/km (excluding VAT)

and accommodation and meals must be supplied if needed. For train-
ing in the Western Cape flights and car rental will be required.

CONTACT US
Please E-mail Ashley (admin@asiorg.co.za)
for available course dates.

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© Johan Marais African Snakebite Institute