Forum32 Article for Sunday's case

India is a country of myths and legends. Where for one it is a myth it is actually a religion for other. We have beliefs that we live by on daily basis. There had been a happenstance years back where an idol of Ganesh drank milk. It had become national news. Beliefs, myths and legends are things that depend on people experiencing and having faith in them. To each his own. Of course, there are beliefs about UFO's too. One such belief is surrounded around snakes. Many movies are made around this theory. Ichchadhaari Naag and Naagin. It is a legend where snakes take form of human for a purpose.

In Arjun ' Har Yug Mein Aayega Ek, the ETF Team will be faced with a case where death has happened due to the wrath of Ichchadhaari Naag and Naagin. ACP Sameer Rathore (Behzaad Khan), ACP Arjun Suryakant Rawte (Shaleen Malhotra), Aayesha Kapoor (Shital Shah), Shree (Siddharth Sen), Chhotu (Ketan Karande) and Liza D'cruz (Ritu Chauhan) will have to unearth the culprits of a crime in a jungle where snake dance happens.

We bring you some Snake related myths and facts. These have been collated from various sources and are for informative purpose only. The snake charmers have been banned in India and same goes for the monkey-minders with animal protection and its welfare as a reason.

Snake Myths and Facts

Myth: Rat Snakes are poisonous.
Fact: Rat snakes are Non-poisonous, rodent-eating Reptiles.

Myth: Rat Snakes mate with cobras.
Fact: Rat Snakes or any other snakes will not mate with any snake out of its own species. Cobras eat other snakes so a mating between a Cobra and a Rat snake is not possible.

Myth: Snakes drink Milk.
Fact: Snakes drink water and do not drink milk, neither can they digest it properly. They are reptiles and have no association with milk, only mammals who have mammary glands can produce milk and thus a liking for milk in non-mammals is unlikely. But in a crises when severely dehydrated, a snake might drink any liquid available.

Myth: Some Snakes grow a beard as they get older.
Fact: Snakes are reptiles and do not have any hair on their bodies let alone a beard. It is impossible for them to have beards for their bodies do not have any ability of growing hair.

Myth: Snakes carry a diamond in their forehead.
Fact: It is impossible for a Snake to carry anything in its head. The mythological status attached with a Snake in India is probably responsible for this myth.

Myth: Snakes remember you if you hurt them.
Fact: Snakes are not vengeful animals and do not have the necessary intelligence to remember people or places for getting revenge. Hindi Movies (Bollywood) have a lot to do with the creation of this myth.

Myth: If one Snake is killed its partner will trace you (no matter wherever you are).
Fact: Snakes are not vengeful animals and are not interested in chasing or tracing people who hurt them. They do not have the necessary memory and intellect to remember people to trace them back. Neither do snakes have a feeling of camaraderie nor do snakes pair for life. Once again Bollywood is responsible for this myth.

Myth: Flying Snakes can pierce somebody's forehead or put out their eyes.
Fact: A Flying Snake does not actually fly but only glides through the air by extending its ribs and pulling in the underside. It can glide a distance of 330 feet or 100 metre. It has an elongated head, which gives the scary feeling that it can pierce a person's head or eyes.

Myth: Snakes found in India can spit venom.
Fact: No Snake found in India can spit venom. Only Spitting-Cobras can spit venom and they are not found in India.

Myth: There are "Two- headed" snakes.
Fact: The Snake-charmers spread the myth about the Two-headed Snakes only to maintain the mythological status of the snakes in India so they can continue attracting large crowds to their Snake shows. In reality nothing like a Two-headed Snake exists.

In Arjun ' Har Yug Mein Aayega Ek, a one of its kind action thriller on Star Plus that airs at 8 pm, the viewers can look forward to stories that find relevance in today's society as well as messages and information that could help you.

We at Forum 32 bring you some tips on first aid in case of a snakebite. Snakebites happen to thousands of people every year especially those who live near wilderness or are habitual trekkers. Even bites from harmless snakes could lead to allergic reaction. Here are the Causes, Symptoms and Emergency Treatment in case one has a snakebite.

Causes

Some common venomous snake bite includes Viper and Cobra that are found in India. In the non-venoumous category there are Rat Snake and Checkered Keelback.

Symptoms

• Fang marks
• Swelling/severe pain at the site
• Bloody discharge from wound
• Burning
• Diarrhea
• Excessive sweating
• Blurred vision
• Numbness/tingling sensation
• Increased thirst
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Loss of muscle co-ordinations
• Convulsions
• Rapid pulse
• Weakness/Dizziness/Fainting

Treatment

• Wash wound with soap/water
• Immobilize the affected area
• Keep area slightly elevated
• Apply cool compress/wet cloth to affected part
• Apply a firm bandage 2-4 inches above bite to
  i. Prevent venom from spreading
  ii.Take care of any bleeding

b. Monitor for pulse, respiration and blood pressure

Prevention

• Do not attempt to kill a snake.
• If you spot a snake, leave it alone
• While hiking or in the woods, stay out of tall grass
• Do not put your hand into pits/crevices during treks
• Exercise caution while climbing rocks