Public

PUBLIC - SOUTH AFRICA

Snake
COURSES

////////////////////

www.AFRICANSNAKEBITEINSTITUTE.com
 Who we are...
T he African Snakebite Institue is the leading training provider of snake
awareness, first aid for snakebite and venomous snake handling training in
Africa.
We offer training to both corporate clients in various industries across Africa,
as well as to members of the public at various trianing locations throughout
South Africa. We offer the widest variety of public snake courses at various venues
throughout South Africa. These courses range from Snake Awareness, First Aid
for Snakebite and Venomous Snake Handling all the way to
Advanced Venomous Snake Handling.

C ourses are presented by Johan Marais, one of

Africa’s leading herpetologists with over 40 years’
experience and by Luke Kemp, a zoology graduate from
Rhodes University.

Johan is the most prominent author of snake books in

Africa and has written the best-sellers; A Complete Guide to
Snakes of Southern Africa, Snakes and Snakebite in Southern
Africa and First Aid for Snakebite, to mention just a few.

Luke Kemp is a keen herpetologist and photographer who

has been working for the African Snakebite Institute for
more than four years and, in addition to presenting courses,
develops much of the ASI course material and does the
identification of snakes from all over Africa on the ASI App.
He is also co-authoring a new a book with Johan on the
Reptiles & Amphibians of southern Africa.
 courses offered
T he courses are open to members of the public from all walks of life;
whether they’re avid hikers, hunters, fishermen, campers, birders, trail
runners, mountain bikers, property owners who are encountering snakes or
just snake enthusiasts wishing to increase their knowledge and experience.

Snake Awareness, First Aid for Snakebite and Venomous

Snake Handling
Our introductory snake awareness, first aid for snakebite and venomous snake
handling course is our most popular course. The morning theory session covers snake

////////////////////
awareness, behaviour, biology, identification, myths, first aid for snakebite, scorpion
sting and spider bite and a discussion on the medical treatment of snakebite. In the
handling session, delegates are taught safe protocols for catching and releasing
venomous snakes using the correct equipment. Delegates do not make physical

.
contact with venomous snakes

www. AFRICANSNAKEBITEINSTITUTE .com

Snake Handling Bootcamp
The next course in the range is our Snake Handling Bootcamp. This is a hands-on day
of practical snake handling. Delegates are taken through the basics of catching and
releasing venomous snakes and are taught how to tail snakes (catching certain species
by the tail and using a hook or snake tong), and then spend the rest of the day working

.
their way through several practical snake removal scenarios.

Advanced Snake Handling

Delegates who have completed our introductory Snake Awareness, First Aid for
Snakebite and Venomous Snake Handling course, as well as the Snake Handling
Bootcamp can move onto our Advanced Snake Handling course. In this course,
delegates are taught how to bag, probe, tube, tail and neck venomous snakes.
This course is popular with people who intend working with snakes professionally or

.
who intend keeping venomous snakes.

Advanced First Aid for Snakebite

In our Advanced First Aid for Snakebite course, we cover snake venoms and their
effects, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and C.P.R., pressure immobilisation, during
which delegates will be taught how to apply the correct pressure and the use of a
pocket mask and a bag valve mask.

.
It is a hands-on course with various practical scenarios.

Reptile Photography course

Our Reptile Photography course covers: Equipment (cameras, lenses, flash, tripods,
memory cards), theory (speed, depth of field, ISO) composition (background and
focal points) lights and lighting (artificial and available light, flashes, diffusers) macro
photography and equipment, Photoshop and Lightroom, archiving images, and tricks
of the trade. A practical session follows the theoretical session.
 Accreditation
Our safe snake handling protocols were
developed by Johan Marais while working as
curator at some of Africa’s leading snake parks
and as a result of visits to various reptile parks
and research facilities in the USA, Mexico, U.K.,
Spain, France, The Netherlands, Belgium, China,
Singapore, Thailand, Australia and various
African countries.

The ASI courses are FGASA (Field Guides

Association of Southern Africa) endorsed and are
accredited by ISZS (the International Society of
Zoological Sciences) and recognised by the AFGA
www. AFRICANSNAKEBITEINSTITUTE .com

(African Field Guides Association) and the NFTGA

(National Federation of Tourist Guides & Affiliates).

The Snake Awareness, First Aid for Snakebite and

Venomous Snake Handling course is registered with both the HPCSA (Health
Professions Council of South Africa) and registered health professionals earn 4 CPD
points, and SAIOSH (South African Institute of Occupational Safety and Health) and
registered participants receive 2 CPD points. It is also registered with the PCIPC (Pest
Control Industry Professional Council) and registered members receive 3 CPD points
when completing this course.

Johan is the snake expert for the Tygerberg Poison Centre and the
Red Cross Poison Centre as well as advisor to various hospitals and
clinics throughout Africa.

Snake Awareness courses fall under the requirements of the

Occu­p ational Health and Safety Act (Act 85 of 1993), Section 8 (1) and (2) E and
it is imperative that such training is provided by an ac­c redited
service provider.
Courses
Snake Awareness
It is a 2 – 3 hour program that includes a section on the major groups of
scorpions, prevention of stings, the do’s and don’ts of basic first aid for
scorpion sting, spider awareness, the dangerous spiders and first aid, bee
sting, snake awareness, snake biology and behaviour, myths and
superstition, identification of snakes in the area, basic first aid for snakebite

////////////////////
and a discussion on the medical treatment of snakebite.

FIRST AID
FOR SNAKEBITE

www. AFRICANSNAKEBITEINSTITUTE .com

The do’s and don’ts of first aid for snakebite are covered in the Snake
Awareness course as well as a discussion on the medical treatment of
snakebite. The latter segment is purely to enlighten delegates so that they
fully understand how medical doctors treat snakebite and what can be done
during first aid to assist with subsequent treatment.

The ASI snakebite protocols and first aid for snakebite procedures are
regularly updated with leading snakebite experts in the world.

VENOMOUS
SNAKE HANDLING
The snake handling session lasts about two hours (depending on the size of
the group) and delegates are taught how to safely capture and contain
venomous snakes using snake tongs, snake hooks, snake tubes and snake
buckets. At no stage do delegates make physical contact with the snakes (i.e.
grabbing by the tail or neck) - this is an unnecessary risk and goes against the
health and safety protocols of most corporate sites.
The purpose of this segment is to teach delegates safe protocols on how to cope
with and safely remove venomous snakes in an emergency situation.

SNAKES
Venomous snakes are provided for the training and will include species
appropriate for the region such as the Puff Adder, Snouted Cobra, Rinkhals
and Cape Cobra (but will vary).
 Snake Handling
bootcamp
Our Snake Handling Bootcamp is the follow-on
course for delegates that have completed our Snake
Awareness, First Aid for Snakebite and Venomous
Snake Handling course.
A one-day course which focuses on improving on
previous course experience and expanding snake
handling skills to include tailing of venomous
snakes. Delegates are also taken through multiple
practical snake removal scenarios.
www. AFRICANSNAKEBITEINSTITUTE .com

Advanced
SNAKE HANDLING
This course is largely for someone working at a
reptile park or who keeps venomous snakes or
who needs to work with them frequently.
The Advanced Snake Handling course includes
bagging, tubing, probing, tailing, and necking
venomous snakes.

Juvenile
Boomslang
 ADVANCED FIRST AID
FOR SNAKEBITE
This training is not part of the Snake Awareness and Venomous Snake Handling
course and includes training on how to apply pressure immobilisation bandages
and the use of a bag valve mask reserve with and/or without oxygen.
It is a half day course and successful delegates receive a certificate in Advanced

////////////////////
First Aid for Snakebite.

www. AFRICANSNAKEBITEINSTITUTE .com

Reptile
Photography Course
Our Reptile Photography course is a half
day course covering both theoretical and
practical components of reptile photogra-
phy. From equipment to camera settings,
composition, lights and lighting, archiv-
ing images, tricks of the trade as well as a
practical reptile shoot and feedback
session.
 SNAKE HANDLING
EQUIPMENT
Recommendations will be made as to what equipment is required when
capturing and relocating snakes.

The African Snakebite Institute is the leading provider of quality snake

handling equipment in Africa and we stock a full range of snake handling
equipment as well as Bag Valve Masks, posters, books, scorpion torches,
snake gaiters and PPE.
www. AFRICANSNAKEBITEINSTITUTE .com
Venues
We present public courses at various venues around the country.
We host monthly courses in Gauteng and the Western Cape, and bi-
monthly courses in KwaZulu-Natal. We also present courses in Bloemfon-
tein, East London, Port Elizabeth, Kimberley, Hoedspruit and Nelspruit
from time to time.

////////////////////
Requirements
In order for us to present courses in specific areas, we require a minimum of
12 delegates to attend the course.
We also a require a lecture venue large enough to accommodate the dela-

www. AFRICANSNAKEBITEINSTITUTE .com

gates, and a white screen for the presentation. Deleates are asked to bring
their own pens and note pads should they wish to take notes. For the snake
handling session we require an area outside (preferably in shade) about a
quarter of a tennis court in size. The African Snakebite Institute will
provide all the snake handling equipment required for use on the day.

COURSE MATERIAL
Each delegate receives a course certificate, First aid for Snakebite booklet,
an ASI Weatherproof Snake Guide and a A3 Dangerous Snakes of Southern Africa
poster.
 COSTS
Snake Awareness and Venomous Snake Handling
The Snake Awareness, First Aid for Snakebite and Venomous
Snake Handling course costs R1695.00 per person and includes
coffee/tea and a light lunch.
For those who want to do the Snake Awareness and First Aid for
Snakebite section without handling, the cost is R1035.00 per
person.
Scholars under 18 years of age pay a reduced fee of R1200.00 for
the full course or R595.00 for Snake Awareness and First aid
section only.

Snake Handling Bootcamp

www. AFRICANSNAKEBITEINSTITUTE .com

The Snake Handling Bootcamp costs R1450.00 per person and

includes coffee/tea and a light lunch.

Advanced Snake Handling

The Advanced Snake Handling course costs R1,495.00 (VAT in-
cluded) per delegate. Tea/coffee and a light lunch will be pro-
vided.

Advanced First Aid for Snakebite

The Advanced First Aid for Snakebite course costs R1,400.00 (VAT
included) per delegate. Tea/coffee and a light lunch will be pro-
vided.

Reptile Photography Course

The Reptile Photography course costs R1,495.00 (VAT included)
per delegate. Tea/coffee and a light lunch will be provided.

CONTACT US
For public course enquiries and quotes please E-mail Bianca
on fin@asiorg.co.za

www. AFRICANSNAKEBITEINSTITUTE .com

© Johan Marais African Snakebite Institute