Snake bites 2-year-old girl, who bites it back until it dies
WASHINGTON (TND) — A 2-year-old girl apparently killed a snake that bit her on the lip.
The child bit the snake after the reptile bit her, with the animal later dying, according to reports.
Newsweek reported that the attack occurred in the child's backyard in Bingol, Turkey, on Aug. 10.
The media outlet noted that neighbors heard the child screaming and ran to the scene.
When they arrived, they reportedly found the child with bite wounds on her mouth -- and a 20-inch snake dangling from her teeth.
Our neighbors have told me that the snake was in the hand of my child, she was playing with it and then it bit her," the child's father, Mehmet Ercan, who was at work when his daughter was bitten, told media sources. "Then, she has bitten the snake back as a reaction."
Neighbors called paramedics and performed first aid, as well as made sure the snake was dead, according to reports.
Newsweek noted that the child was treated at Bingol Maternity and Children's Hospital.
"After 24 hours under observation, she was recovering well," Newsweek reported.
The Mirror noted that the child "has only been identified by her initials as S.E." and shared a few photos of her.
It was not immediately known if the snake was venomous.
The World Health Organization noted that available data indicates that 4.5 million to 5.4 million people get bitten by snakes annually throughout the globe. WHO reported that 1.8 million to 2.7 million people develop clinical illness and 81,000 to 138,000 die from complications.
WHO also offered the following tips if bitten by a snake suspected of being venomous:
- Immediately move away from the area where the bite occurred
- Remove anything tight from around the bitten part of the body to avoid harm if swelling occurs
- Reassure the victim, as most venomous snake bites do not cause immediate death
- Immobilize the person completely and transport the person to a health facility as soon as possible
- Applying pressure at the bite site with a pressure pad may be suitable in some cases
- Avoid traditional first aid methods or herbal medicines
- Paracetamol may be given for local pain, which can be severe
- Vomiting may occur, so place the person on their left side in the recovery position
- Closely monitor airway and breathing and be ready to resuscitate if necessary
The child was bitten a week following the death of William H. “Marty” Martin, a respected snake researcher who died after being bitten by a timber rattler.
The Associated Press noted that Martin died on Aug. 3, which was the day after a captive snake on the property at his home in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, bit him.
Learn more at who.int.
