Pediatrics

PLANT CITY, Fla. — Spring is in the air and snakes may be underfoot, so two University of Florida experts have developed a free program to protect children from potentially dangerous encounters with the reptiles.

“Snakes become more active this time of year, and children need to know what to do if they see one,” said Steve Johnson, an assistant professor with UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. “With Florida’s rapid growth there are many areas where homes and schools are close to snake habitat.”

The program, “Dealing with Venomous Snakes in Florida School Yards,” helps teachers, parents and other concerned adults teach children to avoid snakes. Consisting of four documents and a CD-ROM, it also explains how to identify venomous species, handle snakebite emergencies and discourage snakes from approaching homes and schools.

Johnson, who is stationed at UF’s Gulf Coast Research and Education Center campus in Plant City, developed the program with Martin Main, a UF associate professor at UF’s Southwest Florida Research and Education Center in Immokalee.

Released in February, the program was created in response to concerns voiced by several Florida schools about snakes entering school yards, particularly during spring, Johnson said.

Florida has 45 native snake species, but only six are considered dangerous – the Eastern diamondback rattlesnake, timber rattlesnake, pygmy rattlesnake, cottonmouth, copperhead and coral snake.

“Fortunately, people seldom encounter three of those species in Florida,” Johnson said. “Coral snakes live primarily underground; timber rattlesnakes and copperheads are found only in limited parts of North Florida, though they’re common in surrounding states.”

Adults don’t need to be snake experts to help children stay safe, he said. All youngsters really need to be taught is to respect snakes and be aware that some species are dangerous. The program emphasizes that children should leave snakes alone and if they see a snake they should tell an adult immediately.

“There’s no need to make children fear snakes, but you want to instill caution,” Johnson said. “Most bite incidents happen when people approach snakes deliberately.”

About 6,000 snakebite cases are reported to U.S. poison-control centers each year, one-third of them involving venomous species, according to a 2002 article in the New England Journal of Medicine. Less than 10 snakebite fatalities occur in the United States each year.

Adults can reduce the chance of snake encounters around homes and schools by mowing frequently and removing brush piles and other debris that can shelter snakes. They should also supervise children at play outdoors.

“This is a great time of year to enjoy Florida’s natural beauty,” Johnson said. “We’re not discouraging anyone from being active, we’re just saying a few precautions can ensure that everybody goes home happy.”

The four documents used in the program may be useful to anyone interested in outdoor activities, child care or emergency medical treatment. They are available through UF’s Electronic Data Information Source (EDIS) system:

“Dealing with Venomous Snakes in Florida School Yards” – http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/UW225 “Emergency Snakebite Action Plan” – http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/UW226 “Preventing Encounters Between Children and Snakes” – http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/UW227 “Recognizing Florida’s Venomous Snakes” – http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/UW229

The CD-ROM, “Venomous Snakes of Florida” is available from Johnson at johnsons@wec.ufl.edu. Please include the words “snake presentation” in the subject line.

Credits

Writer

Tom Nordlie, tnordlie@ifas.ufl.edu, (352) 392-0400

Contact

Steve Johnson, johnsons@wec.ufl.edu, (813) 757-2273