Hospitals/medical facilities and snake venom antidote

Hello, one more question concerning the Solomons.

I am going to spend most of my time (whether it's going to be 60% or 90% I am not sure) in the interior jungles of Guadalcanal, Malaita and Makira. I am told by the Travel Medicine Centre in Poland that there are three types of potentially deadly snakes in the Solomons. I enquired about the possibility of obtaining an anti-venom antidote in Poland but I was advised I had to contact medical facilities in Solomon Islands about it as they know more about these venoms than anyone in Poland does. Is that true? Do you know anything about it? Are there any such medical facilities where I can obtain more information about it?

Any responses would be greatly appreciated.

Best regards

Wojtek

I'm Australian, and have had numerous encounters with deadly snakes in Australia, but have never heard of anyone dying or even getting sick, or for that matter, even getting bitten by a snake in Solomon Islands. Crocodiles, yes, snakes, no.

Which is of course great, however the probability - however small - is still there, and there are only three potentially lethal snakes from among tens of various species, and four potentially lethal species of scorpios of among many species. And while the likelihood of being bitten is small, and of dying - even smaller - "better to be safe than sorry" as they say. It's just like with my GPS Sagtellite messenger: one of its functions is to press "SOS" for the Search and Rescue operation. It is of course better not having to use this function even once, but it's good the function is there. Likewise with some anti-venom medicines: obviously it's better never to have to use it, but the knowledge of having it gives one some little bit of extra comfort.

Therefore I have asked about such medical facilities.

Kindest regards

Wojtek

Which is of course great, however the probability - however small - is still there, and there are only three potentially lethal snakes from among tens of various species, and four potentially lethal species of scorpios of among many species. And while the likelihood of being bitten is small, and of dying - even smaller - "better to be safe than sorry" as they say. It's just like with my GPS Sagtellite messenger: one of its functions is to press "SOS" for the Search and Rescue operation. It is of course better not having to use this function even once, but it's good the function is there. Likewise with some anti-venom medicines: obviously it's better never to have to use it, but the knowledge of having it gives one some little bit of extra comfort.

Therefore I have asked about such medical facilities.

Kindest regards

Wojtek

Who do ou think is going to search for and rescue ou in the jungles of Makira?

The unit I have sends satellite signals (so obviously some clearing or a treetop is needed) which are then sent via satellite antennas, stations and cables and if the system detects an "SOS" signal, instead of sending a message of the "I'm fine" type to my family and friends (as it happens when you press the "ok" button), it sends it to the nearest (be it in the Solomons or in Australia) Search and Rescue team, providing geographical co-ordinates of the place from which the signal was sent. Additionally, for an extra small fee I am covered up to 100 thousand USD for the costs of the SAR operation, including, if necessary, a plane or a helicopter.

I'm beginning to think your whole mission is a joke. Do you actually know anything about Solomon Islands, or anywhere else in the Pacific?
Have you been to any Pacific country?
It definitely doesn't work like Europe, and search and rescue in some of the places you are going could cost well over $100,000. More like millions.
The only people equippes to do that sort of work are the Regional Assistance Mission, and the would hope that an visitor from a developed country would have more sense than to get in that sort of mess in a very undeveloped country.

I've been on this planet just shy of seven decades including 25 years as a bush pilot in Alaska. I've had my share of close calls and near-death experiences.

The ones that almost got me were not the kind you can predict. If you try and anticipate things like what kind of anti-venom to take, you will either have a 200-lb pack or never leave because you're not ready.

The most likely ways to die out there are dehydration, drowning or infection. Take a good water filter or treatment system and some wide-spectrum antibiotics.

Electronic gadgets have a way of letting you down when you need them most, don't depend on them.

90% of the stuff you take with you will turn out to be useless crap in a real emergency. The important things you can count on being with you in a desperate situation are your competency and your attitude. Make sure they are up to the task.

The only thing I was told about snakes in Solomons is that they are not aggressive. I saw one on the side of the road and it didn't even look at me when I hopped out of the truck for a closer look. It was referred to as a 'sleepy' snake even though it was poisonous. Most people there have a great fear of snakes, not sure why but for some it's a mythological fear. But Solomons is not Central or South America, I doubt you'd find a snake aggressive enough to attack you on a walk through the bush. I could be wrong, but it was never a concern on mine when I went bush walking on Malaita.

You could always check at Central Hospital when you get to Honiara to find out what they have to say on the subject.

Edited by: Watsoff

Bobilek you REALLY sound paranoid and naive.

First of all, why on Earth would the Polish doctors would have to hold antivenin for 3 species of rare snakes from the far-flung Solomon Islands???
You won't find that even in the Solomons!

Well, if you are so paranoid about getting bitten by one of those rare and shy snakes, you just have to live with the fear, I guess.
I think the chances of getting bitten and thus be killed by one are approximately a million times smaller than being bitten and thus be killed by a malarial mosquito (unexotic but far more common than either snakes or crocs), but should you be unlucky enough to face this fate, you will probably just have to resort to prayers. As OG said, there probably won't be anyone around to launch search and rescue for you, and I doubt antivenins will be available either. Why? Because all these snakes are endemic to the Solomons and Bougainville and are too rare and remote to keep a stock of them in captivity to produce the serums with.

If that makes you feel a bit better, of the 3 poisonous land snakes one is only found on Bugainville, so that leaves you with only 2 to "worry" about in the Solomons "proper".

I actually got a potentially life-threatening case of cellulitis while in a remote part of Solomon Islands. I suspect I was bitten by something (insect, not snake) while doing research on the Weather Coast of Guadalcanal. I travelled woth friends to my next destination in Malaita, (where I am well-known) and by the time I got to the village I was very sick. I woke up 36 hours later with my lower leg 3 times its normal size.
My friends pooled their doxycycline and got some from the local clinic, and it kept the infection under control long enough to arrange a canoe to Auki (6 hours) and plane back to Honiara, where I was treated by a local doctor.
I alwas carry doxycylline, and use it as a malaria prophylaxis anyhow.

I've had bad infections three times in the tropics. The worst one was in 2008 that was initiated by a deep coral puncture wound (wading while wearing open sandals) on Mitiaro. I ended up in a hospital in Los Angeles for seven days with staph, strep and cellulitus... bad stuff!

Moral of the story.... don't wade around coral wearing open sandals, pay attention to open wounds and carry a supply of antibiotics with you. The pills probably won't cure you but they will buy you time until you can get proper medical attention.

Exactly.

Ditto. The last time I was in Solomons I developed a tropical ulcer that kept growing in size until it covered nearly half the circumference of my leg (shin area) and wept and oozed for 4 months. At the time - just before the Peace Accord was signed - it was difficult to get medical supplies, the country was out of almost everything. I had to cut my t-shirts up to use as bandages and there was no antiseptic cream available in the pharmacy in Honiara, but I lucked in and got a tube of some almost useless cream at the private hospital in Munda. I ended up having it treated in hospital in Fiji 5 months later, and by then it was almost out of control. Painful, to say the least. It didn't clear up until after I saw my own GP at home 6 after the fact.

Might be wise to bring your own heavy-duty antibiotic cream with you, and an all-purpose antibiotic like Doxycycline or Ciprofloxacin (Cipro). Won't help with snake bites but that's not at all likely to happen.

Op you'd have to be sure and ID the snake properly to know which anti venom to use too, I guess carry a photo of the 3 poisoness snakes with you, and all the non poisonous species too just to be sure you aren't using the anti venem when not neccesary, also you may be needing a chilly bin full of ice to cart the anti venom in as it usually needs refridgeration, it'll no doubt get pretty hot in your backpack in the tropics otherwise
Also, as mentioned above don't let your life depend to much on a satelite device, there was a case in aus 2 months ago were a bloke broke a leg 150 k's SW of port hedland, rang the emergency services on his sat phone, told then exactly where he was with a gps, they sent out a geologist from a local mining co. - who couldn't find him, or get close enough in the company landcruiser, and in the end the bloke with a broken leg had to drag himself half a mile back to his own vehicle and drove himself to hospital ..
That's in a 1st world country, never mind the solomans

imo, op is a troll.

Definitely not Poppy. He is searching for the "giants" that an American conspiracy theorist con man set up a website about. His most recent post is last week in the South Pacific forum, and it indicates that he has local knowledge, and is, in fact, in the country. The lack of a reply to my information also means that he may be where computers are few and far between.

Coulda been bit by a snake