After the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, when planes crashed into the Twin Towers in the United States, all air travel in the country was suspended. However, one plane was still allowed to fly from San Diego to Miami, as it was necessary to save a person's life. The thing is that the victim was bitten by one of the most poisonous snakes in the world – the taipan, and he needed an urgent antidote. Without timely administration of antivenom, death after a bite of this snake is guaranteed. Therefore, in such situations, literally every hour counts.
On September 11, 2001, after the terrorist attack, only one plane was allowed to fly in the US. Photo source: u-stena.ru
Contents
- 1 Why is a taipan bite dangerous
- 2 How one plane flight saved a person's life
- 3 How does snake antidote work
- 4 What to do in case of a snake bite
Why is a taipan bite dangerous
Just a couple of hours after the planes hit the Twin Towers, 40-year-old snake handler Lawrence Van Sertima was bitten on the thumb by a taipan. Knowing full well what a taipan bite could do, he knew he was in trouble.
The taipan's venom primarily has a neurotoxic effect, that is, it blocks muscle contractions, including paralyzing the respiratory muscles, as a result of which a person stops breathing. It also has a coagulopathic effect, that is, blood clotting is disrupted, which leads to bleeding. At the same time, the kidneys and heart fail. After a bite from this snake, death usually occurs after 4-12 hours.
The taipan is one of the most venomous snakes on the planet. Photo source: britannica.com
It must be said that the mortality rate from taipan is very high. For example, in the Australian state of Queensland, where these snakes most often bite people, every second person bitten dies.
How one plane flight saved a man's life
Because air traffic had already been stopped by the time the snake handler was bitten, Lawrence Van Sertima could not be quickly transported to a Miami hospital by helicopter. The ambulance ride took about 40 minutes. During this time, the venom had already spread throughout his body. And a few hours later, the man was already in critical condition and bleeding from his eyes and mouth.
The Miami-Dade Fire Department, where Lawrence Van Sertima was taken, had a snakebite unit. However, they did not have a specific antidote for taipan venom. Instead, the man was given a polyvalent antidote, meaning one designed to treat bites from several types of snakes.
Every second person dies after a taipan bite. Photo source: billabongsanctuary.com.au
The introduction of the “general” antivenom only slightly helped the man and allowed him to keep alive. However, he needed a special antivenom against the taipan poison, made from the venom of the same snake. This was only available in New York and San Diego, and it had to be delivered very quickly. The only way to make this time was to deliver it by plane.
For obvious reasons, there was virtually no chance of getting permission to take off from a plane in New York. Therefore, the relevant services tried to get permission to take off from San Diego, and it was granted. However, the plane did not fly by itself, but was accompanied by two fighters. As a result, 45 minutes after landing, the man was given an antidote. When Van Sertima came to, he learned about the terrorist attacks only a few days after the tragic events.
How does snake antidote work
The most dangerous substances in snake venom are neurotoxins. They block the transmission of nerve impulses from the brain to the muscles, resulting in paralysis. Including, as already mentioned above, the work of the intercostal muscles and the diaphragm, responsible for breathing, stops.
Antidotes are made from snake venom. Photo source: www.med-practic.com
Antidotes help prevent death in the event of a snake bite, as in the described case. However, they are administered only in the most extreme situations, when a person's life needs to be saved. The fact is that these drugs are expensive, but the most important thing is that they themselves can cause serious harm to health.
The antidote contains antibodies that neutralize the toxic effects of the poison. However, its effectiveness depends on how quickly it is administered. Therefore, it is administered intravenously for a short time.
What to do in case of a snake bite
Fortunately, there are no taipans in Russia, but there are other poisonous snakes. As we have already said, even in the Moscow region you can find vipers. Although they are less poisonous, in case of a bite you still need to take certain measures.
Apply a clean bandage to the bite site. Photo source: rbc.ru
First of all, the victim must be kept at rest in a lying position and an ambulance must be called immediately. The bite site should be treated with an antiseptic, while the remaining poison must be carefully removed from the surface of the skin. Doctors strictly prohibit sucking out the poison with your mouth or cauterizing it, as shown in films.
Be sure to visit our Zen and Telegram channels, here you will find the most interesting news from the world of science and the latest discoveries!
However, to suck out the poison, you can use a special extractor, if you have one at hand. It makes sense to do this in the first 5-7 minutes after the bite. If there is no such tool, a clean bandage should be applied to the bite site. In this case, the limb must be immobilized and provided with an elevated position. Before the arrival of doctors, the victim should also be given a large amount of liquid.