KOLKATA: Bitten by a poisonous snake and need the direction to the nearest hospital where antivenom is available? All one needs to do is download a mobile app launched by the state health department. The app has features that can help snakebite victims on first aid, signs and symptoms and also help direct them to health facilities that have antivenom.
According to health officials, all government-run hospitals in Bengal have been mapped on the app that helps people, with the aid of GPS tracking, rush to the nearest government health facility that has antivenom stock. It also contains contact numbers of snake rescuers who can help in rescuing the reptile to ensure maintaining of ecological balance. "Even though all government hospitals are supposed to have antivenom stock, sometimes a hospital may run out of them. The app will show which hospitals have the stock of this anti-snake bite medication allowing the victim to go there," said a health official.
On the app, one will get the first-aid manual on dos and don'ts after getting bitten by a snake, along with information on how to avoid coming in contact with snakes. The app is bilingual, giving users the language option of either Bengali or English .
The app has been designed by the Poison Information Centre at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital with input by experts. "Hopefully it will make getting medical help easier for snakebite victims," said Somnath Das, professor and HoD, forensic medicine and toxicology at RG Kar.
