Most snakebite are caused by non-venomous or non-poisonous snakes, of the roughly 3000 known species snakes found worldwide, about 15% of them are considered dangerous to man. In Nigeria particularly, many snake are difficult to identify and most snakebites occurs in the savanna region where about 10% of victims occupy the hospital bed and in Benue valley of Nigeria, the estimated incident of snakebites is as high as 497 per 100,000 population per year with 10 to 20% of untreated fatalities.
Snakes found in Nigeria region are;
• Saw-Scaled or West African Carpet Viper (Echis ocellatus)
• African Cobras (Naja spp)
• Puff Adders (Bitis arietans)
• Mambas (Dendroaspis spp)
• Gaboon Viper (Bitis gabonica)

(Don't get bored of the biological names and don't bite your tongue either )

If you or someone you know is been bitten by a Snake, take the person to the hospital with a knowledge of the type, shape and color of the snake. But in the mist of waiting to go to the hospital, here are some quick emergency to follow:
• Try seeing or remembering the type, color, and shape of the snake, which will help in administration of treatment.
• Be calm and avoid anxiousness. Movement can cause the venom to spread quickly to other part of the body.
• Remove tight cloth and jewelry because the bite is likely going to swell, so it’s advisable to remove those quickly.
• Position yourself so that the bite is below the level of your heart.
• You can clean the wound and cover it with a clean dry cloth but DO NOT clean or flush it with water.
• Splint can be applied to reduce movement of the affected area, but make it loose enough so that blood can flow.
• DO NOT use any tourniquet or applying ice.
• DO NOT cut the wound or try to removing the venom.
• Don’t take alcohol or caffeine.
• DO NOT attempt to suck out the venom with mouth.
• When going to the hospital, do not allow the victim to walk, he or she should be mobilized.

How to Know you have been bitten by a Snake
You have got a bit but not sure if it was a snake bit. Here is how to know; (Though, it depends on the type of Snake)
• A hole or a puncture mark at the wound.
• Swelling and redness around the bite with severe pain at the site of the wound.
• Having Nausea or vomiting.
• Finding it hard to breath, breathing may stop in extremes cases.
• Lacking sensation or having tingles around your face or limbs.
• High sweating and salivation.
• Unclear or disturbed vision.

How to prevent Snakebites
• Be cautions of snake when swimming in waters.
• Back away slowly when you see a snake and do not touch it or catch it especially those in the wild.
• Be careful of tall grass, plied leaves, rocks, and woodpile. These are mostly their hide-out.
• When working on were snake maybe available, wear long pants, tall boots, and leather.
• Be cautions or avoid putting your hands in unknown holes, they could be hiding there.

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Useful tips