In the summer we often travel outside the city - we spend time at the dacha, relax near ponds, go to the forest to pick mushrooms and berries. When in nature, you should remember to be careful. Snake activity begins in most regions of Russia in late spring and lasts until autumn. Be careful - despite the fact that the snake does not attack first and always tries to crawl away from potential danger, the person who disturbs it is not immune from being bitten. Egor Safrygin, Director of the Medicine Marketing Department of AlfaStrakhovanie Group, will tell you how to behave in nature and what to do if you are bitten by a snake.

Snakes are cold-blooded creatures and their body temperature depends on the temperature environment. If the external temperature drops, then the snake’s temperature drops to a state of suspended animation, that is, hibernation. As a rule, snakes sense the approach of frost, so they find a place for wintering underground in advance. In the spring they crawl out. IN middle lane In Russia this most often occurs in the second half of April. Snakes are most aggressive during the breeding season, which occurs in mid-summer. But even at this time, the snake does not pursue the goal of attacking a person, since the poison it produces, if we are talking about poisonous snakes, it saves primarily for hunting and killing animals that serve it as food: small rodents, chicks, frogs, lizards. There is only one reason for a snake to attack a person - self-defense. Snake venom is toxic; it causes a powerful allergic reaction in the victim, which can be fatal. The bite of non-venomous snakes is dangerous due to infections that may be present in oral cavity reptile.

In Russia, the most common types of snakes include vipers, copperheads, grass snakes, vipers, and snakes. Since childhood, we know that snakes are not poisonous, and this snake can be distinguished by the bright spots on its head. However, in real life, when meeting reptiles, few people have time to take a good look at the animal. If the bite has been avoided, most of us will prefer to retreat from the “meeting point” without wasting time on getting to know each other better.

You can meet a snake both in the forest and at your summer cottage; a dense forest or an open field is not of much interest to them, but no matter what sparsely populated area you are in, do not let your guard down and always watch your step.

To minimize the consequences of an encounter with a snake, it is important to follow the standard rules for visiting the forest:

Don't go into the forest open clothes and shoes;
Wear high boots made of thick materials or rubber boots that a snake cannot bite through;
If you notice a snake, do not touch it, calmly move away in the opposite direction;
When picking berries and mushrooms, before going into the grass and bending towards the ground, move the vegetation around with a stick;
If the viper notices you before you notice it, it may indicate its presence by hissing - be careful;
Take an antihistamine (anti-allergy) drug with you to the forest.

If bitten by a snake:

Contrary to the prevailing opinion among ordinary people, serpentologists (specialists in the study of snakes) argue that it is unnecessary to suck out the venom. The venom contains the enzyme hyaluronidase, which removes the venom from the bite point almost instantly. Manipulations such as suction or incisions can lead to additional unpleasant consequences.
Do not apply a tourniquet to the affected limb. The poison can cause tissue necrosis, and with a tourniquet you concentrate it in one place.
The viper's venom is not strong enough for adults to healthy man died, despite this, the victim should seek help as quickly as possible medical care to administer a serum that will relieve symptoms;
The poison is eliminated from the body through the kidneys, so you need to drink more. Use any diuretics;
Do not drink alcohol under any circumstances;
Keep calm.

Symptoms after a snake bite:

Headache
Vomit
Diarrhea
Weakness, chills
Fever
Confusion and loss of consciousness
Bleeding of mucous membranes
Severe swelling injured limb

The main condition Get well soon after a snake bite is the correct and timely treatment. And if you want to protect your summer cottage from snakes, clear it as much as possible - remove debris, rotten boards, fallen branches, etc., thereby depriving snakes of possible secluded places.

The Moscow region is experiencing an invasion of vipers. The bites of these snakes can be fatal, the Moscow region government warns.

“The population of the only species of poisonous snakes in the Moscow region - the common viper - has been steadily growing since the mid-1990s. Cases of bites of people, sometimes with fatal consequences, have also become more frequent,” notes the official website of the government of the Moscow region. “Meanwhile, in the arsenal of Russian doctors there is no suitable antidote." Therefore, the Moscow region authorities explain, the consequences of treating bites of this snake are sometimes more serious than the consequences of the bite itself could be.

Experts clarify that vipers spread in patches: you can live literally a few kilometers from the place of their mass accumulation and never come across snakes. This habitat is due to the availability of wintering areas. In addition, vipers are quite secretive and cautious. And although they do not hear sound propagated in the air, they perfectly recognize soil vibrations, that is, they feel steps. But in order for the viper to attack a person, you need to step right on it, representatives of the Ministry of Emergency Situations note.

And yet, in Lately the number of snakes themselves and, as a result, bites, has increased sharply. Experts explain this by a decrease in agricultural activity (the soils are not cultivated and turn into a swamp suitable for snakes). On the other hand, people are increasingly exploring viper habitats themselves: dachas and cottages are being intensively built, and the recreational area of Moscow and other cities is expanding. In addition, there is now a natural increase in the number of this species (which is quite consistent with the sine wave of numbers for any species - this is a natural process).

In the Vladimir region, snakes began to awaken from winter hibernation.

The regional State Hunting Inspectorate warns on its website that the active season of the common viper has begun in the 33rd region, which usually lasts until October.
The warning recommends walking into the forest in rubber boots and clothing made from thick fabric. If you find snakes, do not approach them, do not touch them, and avoid any contact. In the event of a snake bite, you must immediately contact medical institution.
On the territory of the Vladimir region there are only three species of snakes: the grass snake, the copperhead and the viper.
Of these, only the viper is poisonous and its poison poses a danger to humans. The viper can be distinguished by its black color.

It is very similar to a viper, but it has yellow markings on its head.

Previously, it was believed that the copperhead was also poisonous, but scientists have cleared this representative of a small genus of the colubrid family of undeserved accusations. The poison of the copperhead is dangerous only for lizards, mice, frogs and other small animals. The fact is that it belongs to the posterior grooved snakes from the snake family (sometimes it is even called a smooth snake). The copperhead's poisonous teeth are located deep in its mouth, so it cannot bite a person with them. And it has very little poison, since the poisonous glands are not large. A person can only be harmed by a copperhead if he sticks his finger down its throat.
Not a single reliable case of people being affected by copperhead poison has been recorded. Even the selection of poison from the copperhead is accompanied by great difficulties. A bite with small front, non-poisonous teeth is completely safe. All the myths about the toxicity of copperheads are obviously related to the fact that among vipers there are sometimes individuals very similar in color to them.

The activity of vipers in our region occurs in May-June, at which time they begin their period of activity and mating games. When meeting a person, a snake usually tries to hide. When threatened, it takes an active defense: it hisses, makes threatening throws and the most dangerous throws-bites, which are most easily provoked by a moving object. Therefore, it is better not to make sudden movements when directly meeting a viper.
For humans, the bite of a common viper is considered potentially dangerous, but it is extremely rarely fatal, although fatal cases have also been recorded.
If the viper still bites, you need to consult a doctor. After a bite, you need to disinfect the wound, apply a sterile bandage, which, as swelling develops, is periodically loosened so that it does not cut into soft fabrics. To slow down the spread of poison in the body, it is recommended to limit the victim’s mobility. Do not apply a tourniquet above the bite site. And no alcohol, which is not an antidote, but, on the contrary, will make it difficult to remove the poison from the body and enhance its effect. CLASS REPTILES (REPTILES) - REPTILIA

ORDER SCALY - SQUAMATA

Suborder SNAKES - SERPENTES

Viper family - Viperidae

COMMON VIPERA - Vipera berus

Distribution and abundance. This snake has a very large range in Russia, from its western borders to Sakhalin and the Ussuri region. Here it occupies almost the entire European part, and beyond the Urals its distribution area runs in a wide strip across the central and southern regions of Western and Eastern Siberia. The viper is common, but, as a rule, not numerous in all areas of the Novosibirsk and Tomsk regions. It is most often found in pine-pine forest landscapes, in clearings. On them, its number rises to 0.2 thousand individuals per square meter. km. There is very little of it in birch-aspen forests, and even less often this snake is found in fields with copses. Within the Tomsk region, the viper prefers areas on the border between dry and wet habitats. It avoids continuous forests, central areas of swamps, and areas intensively visited by people. The number of vipers is high along the outskirts of swamps, in clearings and clearings, in the valleys of taiga rivers. The average density of snakes is 0.09 individuals/ha, the total number is 300.5 thousand individuals.

Biotopes. In the forest and forest-steppe zones, this snake prefers mixed forests with clearings, lives in abundance in swamps and overgrown burnt areas, and is found along the banks of rivers and streams. It is distributed unevenly and forms clusters in certain areas. high density– “snake foci”, while being absent from neighboring, significant areas. Most likely, they are associated with the availability of places suitable for wintering. Vipers are always associated with woody vegetation, but prefer edges, clearings, peat bogs and the banks of reservoirs. They also inhabit abandoned forest human settlements. Vipers are sedentary in their habitats and do not move further than 100 m. The territory of one snake is usually up to 3-4 hectares.

Activity. Their activity distribution is largely related to temperature conditions. In the spring, vipers stay in well-warmed places; warm soil and heated stones are used for heating; they climb onto tree stumps in direct sunlight. The optimal temperature for males is 25 o C, for females - 28 o C. Snakes crawl out to bask repeatedly during daylight hours, and at dusk their activity is already associated with hunting. They are usually most active in the first half of the night. Well-fed snakes may not leave their shelter for 2-3 days. In the Tomsk region, in spring and autumn, snakes are active from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., in summer – from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. In summer there are two peaks of activity: morning - from 9 to 12 hours, evening - from 16 to 17 hours. Night activity of vipers has not been recorded here.

Nutrition. Young vipers feed on insects. They eat a variety of locusts and beetles, and to a lesser extent they eat caterpillars, ants, slugs and earthworms. They often catch frogs on the banks of reservoirs. The diet of adult vipers consists primarily of small rodents. These are common forest species of voles - red and red-backed voles, as well as dark-skinned voles and mice. In the same place, but to a slightly lesser extent, they catch sharp-faced and Siberian frogs. In the spring and first half of summer, the main food of this snake is birds, these are the chicks of warblers, pipits, and buntings. Their snakes get them from nests located on the ground. Young and adults molt summer time quite often - 1-2 times a month. Despite their toxicity, vipers are food for many animals. They are eaten by snake-eating eagles, owls, less commonly storks and even cranes. A hedgehog can also cope with a viper. These snakes are eaten by badgers, foxes and ferrets.

Wintering. Common vipers overwinter at a depth of 40 cm to 2 m, trying to settle below the freezing zone. Most often they use rodent burrows for this. It happens that they settle down for the winter under haystacks, in cracks in the soil or in cavities left by rotten roots. The temperature in the wintering place never drops to 0 o C. They leave for the winter in September, if the autumn is warm - early October. They overwinter alone or in small groups, but especially convenient places clusters of up to 300 individuals were found. Wintering ends, depending on spring conditions, in April–May.

Reproduction. After leaving wintering grounds, vipers mate within 2–4 weeks, and in the northern part of their range they do not reproduce annually. In females, false viviparity is observed, and the cubs feed not only from nutrients eggs, but also using circulatory system mother. The period of egg development lasts about 3 months, in the offspring there are 8 - 12 cubs. They are born in the second half of summer (from July to the end of September). Large cubs up to 16 cm stick together, defend themselves, and when in danger, hiss and bite. Their bites are already poisonous. Female vipers become sexually mature at the age of five, reaching a length of 52-54 cm, and males at the age of four with a body length of 47 cm. The life expectancy of these snakes is approximately 15 years. The fertility of females in the middle taiga is 9 (3-16), in the southern taiga - 8 (7-9). The venom of the common viper has a pronounced hemolytic effect; it destroys blood cells and the walls of small capillaries. In the territory Novosibirsk region These snakes are caught quite regularly to obtain venom. The viper is poisonous, but peaceful. There are very rare cases of people dying from its bite, and even then, usually death did not occur from the bite, but from its “treatment.” The venom of this snake is used to create many medicinal drugs. The common viper lives poorly in nurseries; there are problems with feeding, because this snake, as a rule, refuses to feed in captivity.

Lord, forgive, save and preserve us sinners!

Residents of Armenia are attacked by snakes.

July 22, 2010, mirtv.ruThere are more than 20 species of reptiles in the republic. The intense heat forces the reptiles to seek coolness in people's homes. In recent days alone, 40 bites have been reported. In the event of a bite from the most poisonous of them, gurza, only antigyurzine can help.

They are equipped in outpatient clinics and ambulances. Moreover, doctors advise to always have an ampoule of such a drug with you. However, not everyone can afford it. One injection of antigyurzine will cost the victim more than 250 US dollars.

“Snakes become active in the spring. The summer heat affects them too, so you need to be extremely careful near reservoirs, rivers, lakes, where snakes tend to because of the heat,” advises commander of the 4th group of the special rescue squad Ambartsum Vartumyan.

This summer, a case of a viper's bite with a fatal outcome has already been recorded. A young man, 22 years old, died in the vicinity of the village of Garni. After being bitten by a snake, he was taken to a rural outpatient clinic, but there was no antigyurzin there.

Because of the heat, snakes began to attack residents of the Moscow region.

17.07.2010, Interfax, K. Iskeev. In the Moscow region, the number of calls for medical help related to snake bites has increased sharply. In particular, the situation worsened in the city of Klin, where the number of such complaints almost doubled.

Mostly people suffer due to viper bites, as noted on the website of the Moscow region government. If last year citizens were bitten eight times, then in the first half of 2010 alone, according to official appeals, there were already 12 such citizens.

According to veterinarians, the increased activity of snakes is directly related to the abnormally hot weather that has established itself in central Russia. Doctors strongly recommend that in case of a bite, immediately contact the nearest medical facility, where the victim will be injected with a special serum.

Let us remember that viper venom can be deadly to humans, but the amount released during one bite is usually not enough to cause death. However, meeting her threatens with dizziness, lethargy, headache, nausea and shortness of breath.

Common viper. A species of poisonous snakes of the genus of true vipers of the viper family, often found in Europe and Asia. Unlike other members of the family, it prefers lower temperatures, found either at higher latitudes (up to the Arctic Circle) or high in the mountains (reaching 3000 meters in the Swiss Alps).

The Pskov Ministry of Emergency Situations warns residents.

July 23, 2010, pravdapskov.ru The aggressiveness of snakes and the number of cases of them attacking humans has increased sharply. Usually the viper can be seen on the border between forest and meadow, near a river or in swamps, but the unusually hot weather this summer forces them to move to reservoirs and summer cottages.

In June-July, two pronounced peaks of activity are observed during the day: morning - from 6 to 9 o'clock and twilight - from 19 to 22 o'clock. Therefore, you need to be especially careful at this time when working in a summer cottage garden, when picking berries in the forest and when moving on peat soil.

In cool, cloudy weather, snakes do not pose a serious danger, since their movements are sluggish, slow, and uncertain. Another thing is dry and hot weather, which makes snakes aggressive.

The viper is a cautious snake, does not like disturbances and always strives to avoid meeting a person. However, the number of victims of viper bites is growing from year to year. And the reason is not that they became less careful and they liked to settle next to people, but that deforestation, forest fires, and mass summer cottage construction on drained swamps force them to move in search of new places to live, which increases the likelihood their meeting with a person.

In the heat of the day (from 12 to 16 hours), snakes move to shady and damp places with bushes and meadow vegetation. When temperatures rise to 30°C, snakes concentrate near bodies of water.

The Main Directorate of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations for the Pskov Region reminds:

It is recommended to wear boots in tall grass, in swamps, along rocky outcrops, and in dead wood;

To avoid being bitten by a snake, watch your step carefully to avoid stepping on it;

Do not sit on fallen trees, stumps and other objects without first inspecting them;

When you see a snake, it is better to go around it rather than try to kill or drive it away.

In the Ural Zlatoust and its environs

Due to the heat, cases of viper attacks on people have become more frequent

July 23, 2010, ami-tass.ru Evgeniy Tkachenko ZLATOUST, Chelyabinsk region. Eight cases of snake attacks this week were recorded by doctors in Zlatoust. As ITAR-TASS was informed today at the city center for medical prevention, several adults and two children are currently undergoing treatment for viper bites in the hospital. One of them had to undergo surgery to save his life.

According to the stories of victims, vipers attacked them on the banks of reservoirs, and even in city parks. Experts explain that the activity of reptiles is caused by abnormally hot weather, forcing snakes to leave their shelters and go in search of cooler places. Perhaps their behavior was influenced by the more frequent fires on peat bogs near Zlatoust.

“Encounters undesirable for both people and vipers have become more frequent for a simple reason: Southern Urals“The heat, unprecedented for these places, has long been established,” says Chelyabinsk biologist Igor Kamkov. –Even in the mountainous and forested conditions where Zlatoust is located, today the thermometer rarely does not reach 30 degrees. Springs dry up, ponds become shallow. And only water can save reptiles from the heat.”

Doctors urge people to be careful and remind that after a snake bite, they should immediately go to a medical facility, where doctors will inject the victim with a special serum.

In the Chelyabinsk region, cases of snake attacks have become more frequent. From viper bites, the most common poisonous snake in the Southern Urals, several people have already been injured.

The last attack in Zlatoust turned out to be the most severe. The victim was a six-year-old boy. Within an hour of the bite, he continued to play and bathe. And only when the symptoms began to appear in a complicated form, the parents took their son to the hospital.

“After being admitted to us, he was hospitalized in intensive care,–reports Rashid Shakurov, head of traumatology department of GB No. 3 of the city of Zlatoust.– Detoxification measures began: IV drips, treatment of the leg. We carried out dynamic observation. Then, due to increasing severe swelling, the child was transferred to the surgical department of the first city hospital, where operations were performed.”

Isolated cases of bites have been recorded in the city. They mainly occur in the mountains and near bodies of water. A snake bites if a person disturbs it, for example, by accidentally stepping on it. Doctors warn: you must be extremely careful and, if bitten, immediately seek medical help.

CAUTION: SNAKES!

Eight people in the forests near Minsk alone suffered from snake bites.

07/22/2010, People's Newspaper. ng.by/ru, Alexander Chernukho. MINSK. The surge in activity of creeping reptiles is a seasonal phenomenon, but this year it is something unprecedented. In hot weather, snakes stay close to ponds and wetlands. It's not always easy to see them.

“It’s the snake that people can’t see that’s dangerous,” explains the head of the treatment department. acute poisoning emergency hospital Andrey Shmigelsky. – For example, in the forest a person can reach out to a mushroom near which a viper is warming itself. She will see this as a threat and immediately attack.

If you do not make sudden movements, the snake usually does not attack. Experts say that it is unlikely to die from the venom of a viper or copperhead. Much more dangerous allergic reaction for poison But in any case, precautions must be taken.

“When going into the forest, you need to put on high boots and tight trousers,” advises Andrei Shmigelsky. – If a person finds himself close to a snake, he needs to freeze, and then slowly retreat and look around. There may be another snake nearby.

It's not worth catching reptiles. There was a case when a man was bitten by a viper and he decided to catch it to show it to the doctor. As a result, he was bitten again.

If the snake does attack you, no later than 20 to 30 minutes later, suck out the poison from the wound, lubricate it with an antiseptic and apply a clean bandage over it. Then consult a doctor immediately. Experts do not recommend cutting the wound, cauterizing it, or applying a tourniquet. This is completely ineffective and can even harm the victim.

LUCHA Advice: If you haven't been to confession for a long time, go to church. And before leaving the house, read a prayer against the bites of poisonous reptiles. TAKE CARE OF THE CHILDREN!

LUCH 2010