| Many individuals when encouraged to go hiking | | | | your hands into dark places such as hollow logs, |
| express a fear of snakes and this fear keeps them | | | | under logs or rock crevices without first thoroughly |
| from experiencing the beauty of our natural world. | | | | investigating the place. Similarly before you place your |
| The fear of snakes is an exaggerated concern and | | | | hand to pick up an object from a place that may be |
| by following some simple rules most persons will | | | | a resting place for a snake, such as under bushes, |
| never have any threatening experiences with snakes. | | | | among leaves, rocks or logs, you should check the |
| When hiking, you should not go barefooted or in | | | | area first. It is a good idea to hike with a long stick |
| sandals but wear hiking boots or heavy walking | | | | that can be used to probe among rocks and under |
| shoes, along with long pants of a heavy material such | | | | logs. |
| as denim. These provide foot protection against bites | | | | If your hiking trip involves overnight camping you |
| from snakes and also protect against insect bites, | | | | should not leave your boots outside of your tent at |
| scorpion stings and cuts from sharp stones. Coral | | | | night because snakes may crawl into them to escape |
| snakes for example have small fangs that are usually | | | | from the cold. Alternatively you can place two poles |
| unable to penetrate the fabric of a boot. | | | | in the ground and hang the boots upside down on |
| When walking through heavy brush or tall grass look | | | | the poles. Before putting on your boots you should |
| down, look where you are walking. Very often | | | | turn the boots upside down and shake them to |
| poisonous snakes are lying on the forest floor among | | | | ensure that no snakes or scorpions have crawled into |
| the leaf litter and so by looking down you will be able | | | | the boots. |
| to see them and avoid accidentally stepping on or | | | | Never attempt to pick up a snake unless you are an |
| next to them. The beauty of our natural world often | | | | expert. Even freshly killed snakes can still bite as their |
| captivates us and so there is a tendency to look at | | | | nervous system may be still active and so their head |
| the scenery as we walk. When hiking it is better to | | | | may do a reflex bite. |
| stop and look around to admire the beauty of | | | | If in the unfortunate circumstance an individual is |
| nature, rather than walk and gaze around. One should | | | | bitten by a snake you should always treat the |
| always look at the trail while walking. | | | | situation as if the bite is from a poisonous snake |
| Fallen trees or logs across the trail are a common | | | | because the individual who was bitten may not have |
| occurrence when hiking in the forest. Most persons | | | | seen the snake or be able to identify the type of |
| simply step across the fallen tree, however | | | | snake. Usually with bites from a viper there is pain |
| depending upon the size of the log it may not be | | | | and swelling around the area of the bite, however in |
| possible to immediately see on the other side of the | | | | the case of the coral snake often there is very little |
| log when you are approaching the log. It should be | | | | reaction around the bite area and symptoms may |
| remembered that snakes often lie below fallen logs. | | | | not appear for 8 to 24 hours. |
| The more appropriate method is to step on the log, | | | | The individual who was bitten should be made to lie |
| look to see if there is a snake lying on the other side | | | | down and kept still. The objective is to lower the |
| and then step down. | | | | pulse rate and so slow the spread of the venom. Ice |
| Depending upon how strenuous the hike is, there will | | | | should be placed on the bitten area if possible. The |
| be intervals when you stop to rest. The natural | | | | individual should then be transported to the nearest |
| inclination for most persons on a rest break is to sit | | | | source of medical attention. You should never |
| and fallen trees are an inviting location for resting | | | | attempt to suck the poison out of the area as you |
| weary bodies. Do not sit down without first checking | | | | may poison yourself. |
| the area and especially do not lean on fallen trees or | | | | By following these simple rules most individuals will |
| rocks without first checking them well. | | | | never have to worry about being bitten by a |
| Snakes and scorpions often lie in hollow logs or in | | | | poisonous snake. |
| rock crevices therefore you should avoid thrusting | | | | |