First of all congrats to our patch winners! In order of correct answer submission:
I encourage you to read the paper we’ve used in both our patch contests so far. It contains a lot of SOF-relevant medical info pertinent to African operations, and it could be used for future reference. Thanks to Breakaway Media, LLC – JSOM Publisher – we are offering you a FREE COPY!
BRiEF TAKE HOME MESSAGE ABOUT SNAKE BiTES & ANTiVENiNS:
As Bill V. likes to say, it’s important to wrap your head around treating the SYNDROME and NOT the symptoms. The symptoms will help you determine the syndrome to treat. Symptoms will vary and progress over time, so reassess, reassess, and one more time reassess.
Establish the baseline to increase your ability to identify the specific syndrome as it progresses:
CYTOTOXiC (PROGRESSiVE PAiNFUL SWELLiNG) syndrome:
NEUROTOXiC (PROGRESSiVE WEAKNESS) syndrome:
HEMOTOXiC (PROGRESSiVE BLEEDiNG) syndrome:
Administration of antivenin is a clinical decision and should be based on evidence of severe or systemic symptoms. However, due to risk of anaphylaxis carried by all antivenins, administration should be performed in at least a Role 2 facility with appropriate monitoring and emergency treatment resources available.
Currently available antivenin has a defined range of therapeutic efficacy and there are several species for which no antivenin is available. Antivenin is in short supply, has a limited shelf life, requires dependable cold storage, and is available only through a select few manufacturers. So PACE your antivenins!