Basic lessons for snake rescuers

BHUBANESWAR: Having his right hand amputated in a cracker explosion three years ago, though Ramachandra Mohapatra of Sakhigopal manages to capture poisonous snakes with his left hand and comes to the rescue of people in his localities, saving life of people during crisis was definitely difficult for him due to lack of basic skills.  

A first-of-its-kind workshop on “Occupational safety and basic life support for snake rescuers of Odisha” organised at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar on Sunday was a game-changer for 47-year-old Mohapatra and his ilk. “It was learning for a lifetime. Apart from rescuing snakes, now we can provide preliminary life support to people till they get medical services,” he said.

Mohapatra has been rescuing snakes for more than two decades. His skill of capturing snakes in one hand still surprises many. He was one of 50 snake rescuers, volunteers of Snake Helpline and employees of Forest Department from across the State to attend the workshop organised by the Departments of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Trauma and Emergency Medicine of AIIMS.

Speaking on the occasion, PCCF (Wild Life) and Chief Wild Life Warden Sandeep Tripathy emphasised that snake rescuers should work in association with local forest officials, take stricter safety measures and obey wildlife Act. Snake bite has been declared as a ‘Neglected Tropical Disease’ by WHO. It is a burden on developing countries and India tops the list of snakebite deaths in the world. Around 46,000 people die of snakebites in the country every year.

AIIMS Director Dr Gitanjali Batmanabane said snake rescuers are often the first persons of contact with public in cases of snakebite. Their valour has a lasting impression and they can act as messengers to spread the awareness about Dos and Don’ts related to snakebite, she said and announced treatment on priority basis for the snake rescuers at AIIMS.

Secretary of Snake Helpline Subhendu Mallik said the event was a rare amalgamation, where healthcare professionals and forest officials imparted training on basic life support and guided the snake rescuers.
While DCF of Nandankanan Biological Park KL Purohit spoke on Wildlife Act with special focus on the Indian snakes and SP Parida from Regional Museum of Natural History deliberated on occupational safety protocol, Dr Samarendra Mohapatra and Dr Sangeeta Sahoo and Dr Upendra Hansda imparted training.
It was learning for a lifetime. Apart from rescuing snakes, now we can provide preliminary life support to people till they get medical services - Ramachandra Mohapatra, snake rescuer