by Sico » Mon Dec 28, 2015 9:56 am
You can use SAIMR polyvalent antivenom, but that would require some knowledge about intravenous fluid therapy, as well as anaphylactic reactions, as well as neccesitate purchasing the equipment to properly provide for and manage both of these. I'd suggest you find out which of the ambulance services in your region are more reputable (there are plenty of cr@p ones in SA at the moment), have their number well-posted and accessible, find out which hospitals in your region carry the antivenom, or have experience in snake bite cases, and make this your preferred destination, as well as having their numbers posted and accessible. Being prepared with a plan can save huge amounts of time when an emergency occurs. Notify the hospital as long before your arrival as possible, with the information they require, and they should be prepared for you which will cut out a lot of wasted time as well. In most cases you would have around 6 hours after the bite from a Cape cobra before you reach the cut-off time for antivenom effectiveness, and with basic first aid measures like rescue-rescue breathing you should be able to keep the majority of patients alive until antivenom is administered should respiratory paralysis have set in.
Your easiest, simplest solution? Eyes open and avoid the snake to begin with. An increase in activity in the immediate area will condition the snake over time and it will not feel as threatened. Pets should obviously be kept well away if at all possible as they will only "poke the wasp nest" so to speak and someone will end up bitten or upset about a dead pet.
Mark
Good judgment comes from experience. Unfortunately, experience usually comes from bad judgment.