All persons using laboratories at Texas A&M-Kingsville are bound to the safety procedures stated in the university’s Chemical Hygiene Plan. This appendix deals with specific procedures pertaining to poisonous snakes and their venoms and is designed as a supplement to the Chemical Hygiene Plan. Refer to various sections within the Chemical Hygiene Plan to obtain information on safety procedures not covered in this appendix.

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The mission of the Natural Toxins Research Center (NTRC) program at Texas A&M-Kingsville is to enhance the research infrastructure and to promote research in a safe environment. Within the NTRC there are two research environments (research laboratory and Serpentarium) which use poisonous snakes and their venoms. Poisonous snakes are animals that use their venom for capturing their prey but create medical emergencies when humans are envenomated. For this reason specialized safety procedures have been established which protect individuals from coming in contact with venomous snakes. Proper animal husbandry and research protocols have been established by investigators, animal room technicians, and university safety personnel. It is the responsibility of the Animal Room Technician, Laboratory Director and the Director of NTRC to insure these rules and protocols are enforced.

2.0 PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING SNAKES

To insure that an employee receives the best possible emergency treatment and medical care, the following protocol will be followed. These polices apply to the NTRC Serpentarium and laboratory facilities. To insure safety and secure snake and venom inventories, keys to the snake rooms and venom storage area will only be issued to the Animal Room Technician, the Laboratory Director, and the Director of NTRC. The Assistant Laboratory Director will only have a key to the animal facility. Faculty members can be issued keys to rooms which house animals for their research projects. The Animal Room Technician will have access to all rooms for inspection purposes.

The following guidelines will be adhered to at all times while working with or handling snakes in the Serpentarium.

1. The Animal Room Technician is in charge of the Serpentarium and is responsible for supervising all other individuals that work in the facility; the safety and well-being of all animals; and the proper use of equipment and supplies in the Serpentarium. The immediate supervisor of the Animal Room Technician is the NTRC Laboratory Director. The NTRC Laboratory Director reports to NTRC Director.
   
2. All venoms and snakes will be properly cataloged and stored under safe and secure conditions. All Serpentarium policies are enforceable by the Animal Room Technician or the Laboratory Director.
   
3. Only authorized individuals designated by NTRC Director will milk snakes. Before milking snakes, these individuals will be trained by the NTRC Director in the proper procedure in handling snakes. The Animal Room Technician will insure that only designated personnel handle the snakes.
   
4. At least two individuals will be in the Serpentarium with an automobile parked outside when snakes are being milked. A dedicated parking space will be identified for animal room use only. This will insure that a car will be parked close to the Serpentarium in the event of an incident.
   
5. Snakes can only be fed and watered under the direction of the Animal Room Technician or individuals authorized by the Laboratory Director.
   
6. The Animal Room Technician is responsible for reporting all incidences to the Laboratory Director who will report the incident to the NTRC Director. The NTRC Director will follow established University procedure for incident reporting as outlined in the University’s Employee Safety Handbook.
   
7. The Animal Room Technician and Laboratory Director will fill out incident reports within 24 hours. These forms will be routed through the NTRC Director to Human Resources as outlined in the University’s Employee Safety Handbook.
   
8. The Animal Room Technician is responsible for the safety, cleanliness and proper care of all animals in the facility. The Laboratory Director will have daily contact with the Animal Room Technician and will conduct weekly walk-through inspections.
   
9. The Animal Room Technician is responsible for the safety of all individuals that enter the animal facility and responsible for overseeing experimental protocol to insure that animals are not abused. If violations are found, they will be reported to the NTRC Laboratory Director.
   
10. The Animal Room Technician will be required to take training in animal care, emergency first aid and safety. This training will be provided by the University.
    
11. The Animal Room Technician is responsible to make sure that emergency phone numbers are posted in the office, the Serpentarium, and the laboratory.
    
12. The Animal Care and Use Committee will make semiannual inspections and the Animal Room Technician and Laboratory Director will accompany the safety committee during the inspections.
    
13. Student Health Services will provide vaccination for tetanus and rabies. Vaccination records will be kept at the Student Health Service.

3.0 PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING ANESTHETICS

The following are minimum guidelines for working with anesthetics.

1. All anesthetics will be kept under lock and key.
   
2. Keys will be issued to the Animal Room Technician and the NTRC Laboratory Director.
   
3. At least two individuals will be present when administering anesthetics to a laboratory animal.
   
4. All personnel administering anesthetics should do so under a fume hood and with goggles.
   
5. The anesthetics must never leave the Animal Room Facility.
   
6. The amount of anesthetics, the number of animals used, and the date will be recorded by the Animal Room Technician.

4.0 EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOR SNAKE BITES

If you are involved in activities requiring you to be out in the field where venomous snakes occur NEVER hike, camp or collect specimens unless accompanied by at least two companions. In the event of a snakebite, one should stay with the victim and the other should go for help. Everyone should know what to do in the event of a snakebite incident.

You should also prepare and carry an emergency snakebite kit. With the essential items in the snakebite kit, and the ability to apply them rapidly without panic or confusion, you can buy precious time and help save the life of the victim in the event of a snakebite.

The following are general guidelines that should be adhered to in case of an individual being bitten by a venomous snake.

What NOT To Do If Bitten By A Venomous Snake:

DO NOT permit removal of pressure dressings or ACE bandage until the victim is at a facility ready and able to administer antivenom. As soon as the dressings are released the venom will spread causing the usual expected problems of a venomous snakebite.

Do not eat or drink anything unless okayed by physician.

Do not engage in strenuous physical activity.

Do not apply oral (mouth) suction to bite.

Do not cut into or incise bite marks with a blade.

Do not drink any alcohol or use any medication.

Do not apply either hot or cold packs.

Do not apply a narrow, constrictive tourniquet such as a belt, necktie or  cord.

Do not use a stun gun or electric shock of any kind.

4.1 Procedures for On-Campus Snakebites

The following are minimum guidelines that should be adhered to in case of a snakebite in the NTRC Serpentarium.

1. Do not Administer Drugs or Antivenom.
   
2. IMMEDIATELY contact UPD at ext. 2611 and have them transport the patient to Spohn Kleberg Hospital. Instruct UPD Dispatch to inform the hospital that a snakebite victim is being transported to the hospital.
   
3. IMMEDIATELY inform hospital staff to contact South Texas Poison Center (1-800-764-7661).
   
4. Contact the Laboratory Director by phone as soon as possible. In the absence of the Laboratory Director contact the NTRC Director. In the absence of NTRC Director Contact the Department Chairman of Biology.
   
5. Contact the family of the victim.
   
6. With the help of the Laboratory Director fill out an incident report within 24 hours of the incident.

4.2 First Aid Treatment of Snakebites in the Field

The following are minimum guidelines that should be adhered to in case of a snakebite in the field.

1. Allow bite to bleed freely for 15-30 seconds.
   
2. Cleanse and rapidly disinfect area with Betadine or Alcohol pad
   
3. If bitten on the hand, finger, foot or toe, wrap leg/arm rapidly with Ace Bandage past the knee or elbow joint immobilizing it.
   
4. Leave area of fang marks open.
   
5. Apply Sawyer Extractor immediately until there is no more drainage from fang marks. (See specific instructions for Sawyer Extractor Kit.)
   
6. Cleanse and disinfect bite area again.
   
7. Apply hard direct pressure over bite using a 4 x 4 gauze pad folded in half.
   
8. Soak gauze pad in Betadine^(TM) solution if available, but only if victim is not allergic to iodines.
   
9. Strap gauze pad tightly in place with adhesive tape.
   
10. Over-wrap dressing above and below bite area with additional ACE bandage.
    
11. Wrap ACE (elastic) bandage as tight as one would for a sprain but not too tight to cut off circulation.
    
12. Check for pulses above and below elastic wrap; if absent it is too tight.
    
13. Use splinting to immobilize bitten extremity.
    
14. If possible, try and keep bitten extremity below heart level or in a gravity dependent position.
    
15. Visual identification / description of the offending snake is necessary for medical purposes.
    
16. Bites to face, torso or buttocks are more problematic. Disinfect first. Prep (shave hair) area with razor provided in extractor kit.
    
17. Use extractor device until there is no further drainage possible and then apply pressure dressing with gauze pad and tape.
    
18. Go to nearest hospital or medical facility as soon as possible.
    
19. IMMEDIATELY inform hospital staff to contact South Texas Poison Center (1-800-764-7661).

4.3 Procedures for Sawyer Extractor Kit

The Extractor pump creates a powerful suction designed to remove venom from the body by sucking it out the same cavity (fang or stinger track) through which it was injected. If necessary to improve suction, use the safety razor provided to remove body hair from the bitten area. Other techniques for improving suction include wetting or covering the surface under the suction cup with petroleum jelly or Vitamin A&D ointment to help provide a seal.

Select suction cup size depending on area of body bitten as well as distance between multiple fang punctures. Insert the smaller end into the extractor nozzle.

Pull the plunger out to its fullest extent and place the cup firmly over the bite or sting.

Using the thumb, push the plunger all the way down until you feel the suction and let the
    pump remove the poison.

Insect bites take up to 90 seconds of continuous application for effective removal of venom. Due to spreading factors of snake venom, suction for only the first few minutes after a snakebite is beneficial but you can continue applying vacuum for as long as possible if you are getting results (fluid removal in the cup).

In snakebites it is recommended to use one extractor device over one fang track. For maximum efficiency two fang tracks require two extractors placed simultaneously and separately over each mark. Applying a pressure bandage above the bite marks pushes the venom toward the vacuum exerted by the extractor device. If you only have one extractor device on hand place the device over one fang track at a time and alternate between separate fang tracks every two minutes for up to 10 minutes if you are getting results.

Pull the plunger up gently to release the vacuum. If present, venom mixed with body
   fluids will be visible on the skin. Wipe away carefully and avoid splatter. Disinfect
   bite-site with alcohol wipes or pour betadine on wounds and dress with bandages.

Seek medical attention.

Appendix - D- prepared by:
Dr. John C. Perez, NTRC Program Director
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Department of Biology
September, 1997

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