Don’t panic; spiders are our friends
'Mostly, people should only be concerned about medically important spiders.'
On Saturday, May 21 West Rand scorpion and snake expert, Jonathan Leeming hosted an exciting Essential Spider Bite First Response presentation at the Kloofendal Nature Reserve.
Also read: https://www.citizen.co.za/roodepoort-record/2022/04/27/learn-about-creepy-crawlies-in-new-book/
Nature enthusiasts braved the cold to learn more about the essential, yet often misunderstood creatures. The presentation – developed and presented by Jonathan – provided a structured framework which might greatly reduce the risk of being bitten by a spider.
It also served to educate those in attendance on what to do and how to react should a spider bite occur in humans or pets. This framework of understanding can be applied any time and anywhere, and doesn’t require any special equipment.
Also read: https://www.citizen.co.za/roodepoort-record/2020/01/17/fun-filled-weekend-by-frok/
Although load-shedding threatened to halt the presentation, the passionate expert kept his audience intrigued by painting visual pictures and scenarios with only his knowledgeable words.
Jonathan spoke about how to reduce the risk of being bitten, how to identify medically important spiders, how to react when encountering a spider, how to prepare for a spider bite emergency, and how to respond competently in case of a spider bite.
“Mostly, people should only be concerned about medically important spiders which include black button spiders, violin spiders, sac spiders and the six-eyed sand spider. These are spiders with venom that can pose a serious or even life-threatening risk to humans,” he said.
“This presentation is usually ideal for everyone who enjoys the great outdoors, such as field guides and lodge staff, outdoor enthusiasts, employees who work in areas inhabited by snakes, conservationists and field workers, and of course hikers, mountain bikers and trail runners.”
If you want to know more about venomous bites and creatures, feel free to visit Jonathan’s website here: https://scorpions.co.za/spiderbite-first-response/.
If you want to attend a Kloofendal event, visit this link to find out more: www.KloofendalFriendsorg.za/events.
