Snakes of South Africa

• Australia

  Emergency000

  Australian first aid for snakebite uses a pressure immobilisation bandage and splint, and advises not washing the bite.

• Bangladesh

  Emergency999

  A 2017 study noted that the Indian polyvalent antivenom used in Bangladesh is not made from the venoms of local species such as the monocled cobra, and it did not prevent local tissue damage from cobra bites.

• Brazil

  Ambulance192Emergency193

  Antivenom is free in Brazil's public health system (SUS), but it is only given in hospital, at reference hospitals chosen by each state.

• India

  Ambulance108Emergency112

  Indian polyvalent antivenom is raised against the 'Big Four' and may not neutralise some regional species, such as the monocellate cobra in the North-East and the hump-nosed pit viper in the south-west.

• Indonesia

  Ambulance119Emergency112

  Indonesia's own antivenom, made by Bio Farma, is raised against only three species (Javan spitting cobra, banded krait and Malayan pit viper), so it may work poorly for bites by other snakes such as green pit vipers.

• Kenya

  Emergency999

  Antivenom is usually stocked only at hospitals and some health centres, so people bitten in rural areas often need to be referred, and delays are common.

• Mexico

  Emergency911

  Mexico's public health system uses two anti-viper antivenoms; one is made from the venoms of the terciopelo and the Mexican west coast rattlesnake.

• Nepal

  Ambulance102Emergency100

  100 is the police emergency number; call 102 for an ambulance.

• Nigeria

  Emergency112

  Antivenoms made from Nigerian snake venoms (EchiTAb G and EchiTAb-Plus-ICP) have proved effective in clinical trials, while some imported antivenoms made from non-African snake venoms have proved ineffective.

• Pakistan

  Emergency1122

  Rescue 1122 handles ambulance and fire emergencies; the police number is 15.

• Philippines

  Emergency911

  The only antivenom made in the Philippines is Philippine Cobra Antivenom, raised against the Philippine cobra; there is no locally made antivenom for pit viper bites.

• South Africa

  Ambulance10177Emergency112

  112 works for all emergencies from a mobile phone; 10177 is ambulance and fire, and 10111 is police.

• Sri Lanka

  Ambulance1990Emergency119

  119 (or 118) is the police emergency number; call 1990 for an ambulance.

• United States

  Emergency911

  For free, expert 24/7 advice you can also call Poison Help on 1-800-222-1222, but call 911 in an emergency.

Not listed? Call your local emergency number.