Drought Drives Deadly Venomous Snakes Into Australian Towns - 3 Fatalities To Date - AFP

[hatrack]

Sydney (AFP) Jan 18 - Three people have died from snakebites in Australia as a harsh drought drives venomous reptiles into urban areas, officials and experts warned Thursday. More people could be bitten as increasing numbers of snakes move into residential and business areas in search of moisture, Victoria state health minister Bronwyn Pike said.

"If you see a snake, don't go near it, and if you do unfortunately happen to be bitten by a snake, make sure you get urgent medical attention as soon as possible," Pike said. "In the intervening time, stay calm, apply a pressure bandage and then, hopefully, we won't have any of the tragic consequences we've seen most recently."

A teenager bitten in the country's most populous city Sydney last week staggered onto a suburban cricket ground before collapsing and being rushed to hospital, where he died.

The 16-year-old boy was one of three people bitten by snakes in the past week and one of three killed by eastern brown snakes, considered to be among the world's deadliest, this southern hemisphere summer.

EDIT

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Australian_Fires_Turn_Deadly_As_Snakes_Head_Into_Town_For_A_Drink_999.html

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. Oy. That sounds like a bad situation.

No thanks.

[stranger]

2. most people bitten by snakes either...

tried to capture, or kill it-instead of simply walking away,
and leaving it alone-

remebr folks, snakes dont chase people down and bite them like some breeds of domestic dogs.

I recall a guy in gerogia who was fishing. he saw a water mocassin swiminnmg near the boat.

he couldnt simply let it be; he just had to kill it.

so, he whacked it with the oar, and the snake disappeared under the water.
he raised the oar over his head to whack it again when it resurfaced.
He didn't see that the snake had wrapped itself around the oar. It dropped from the raised oar and fell on his shoulder and then it bit him on the neck.

The dumb bastard suffered permanent brain damage-which was Totally unnecessary

I say it served him right.

of course, it cant be helped when you dont see the snake, and inadvertently
step on it-but thats usually NOT the case-

most bites occur as a result of somebody (almost always an adolescent boy or "macho" man)
trying to show off by catching it or killing it.