4 ms·

Delaying is already massive seeing as you often cant take anti-venom with you due to refrigeration needs. That delay is likely enough to get you to a clinic. F

Delaying is already massive seeing as you often cant take anti-venom with you due to refrigeration needs. That delay is likely enough to get you to a clinic. For the cost aspects, as India has shown life saving generics for people who couldnt afford it anyway are always an option. edit: Its also worth mentioning that the "accessible by drone" aspect to reduce treatment times is rarely possible in the rain forests where such bites often occur.

lupusreal 3y ago
> edit: Its also worth mentioning that the "accessible by drone" aspect to reduce treatment times is rarely possible in the rain forests where such bites often occur. Given the expenses already involved, it seems to me that single use drones should be on the table. Fixed wing for range, with detachable wings and a hard dense fuselage for penetrating the tree canopy. They'd cost a few thousand a pop.
liamwire 3y ago
Even if antivenom was stable at room temperature, that’s far from the only reason you can’t take it with you. Administration challenges, identifying the snake correctly and i.e. the right antivenom to use, variation in doses needed—which may well be multiple vials, the list goes on. Further, even with antivenom administered, a person is likely to experience a range of side effects and symptoms that would be life threatening emergencies even in if they were inside an ICU, let alone out in the field. Without the compliment of an equipped medical professional and supportive care, antivenom may well do more harm than good in the immediate aftermath of envenomation. Far better to get the person out of harms way and follow your local first aid procedure for snakebites. In Australia for example, that’s the pressure immobilisation technique, but in other countries it’ll depend on the venom in question. Rattlesnake venom is often necrotising and a tourniquet may cause more harm. Anything that buys more time is key.

lupusreal 3y ago

> edit: Its also worth mentioning that the "accessible by drone" aspect to reduce treatment times is rarely possible in the rain forests where such bites often occur. Given the expenses already involved, it seems to me that single use drones should be on the table. Fixed wing for range, with detachable wings and a hard dense fuselage for penetrating the tree canopy. They'd cost a few thousand a pop.

liamwire 3y ago

Even if antivenom was stable at room temperature, that’s far from the only reason you can’t take it with you. Administration challenges, identifying the snake correctly and i.e. the right antivenom to use, variation in doses needed—which may well be multiple vials, the list goes on. Further, even with antivenom administered, a person is likely to experience a range of side effects and symptoms that would be life threatening emergencies even in if they were inside an ICU, let alone out in the field. Without the compliment of an equipped medical professional and supportive care, antivenom may well do more harm than good in the immediate aftermath of envenomation. Far better to get the person out of harms way and follow your local first aid procedure for snakebites. In Australia for example, that’s the pressure immobilisation technique, but in other countries it’ll depend on the venom in question. Rattlesnake venom is often necrotising and a tourniquet may cause more harm. Anything that buys more time is key.