Elderly Man Hospitalized in Serious Condition After Snakebite in Golan Heights

A 72-year-old man from Buqata was bitten on the hand by a snake in an agricultural field near Kibbutz Ein Zivan in the Golan Heights on Monday. He was evacuated in serious condition to Ziv Medical Center in Safed. Magen David Adom teams provided initial treatment at the scene before transporting him to the hospital, where he suffered a severe reaction to the venom and was disoriented.

At the hospital, doctors administered life-saving treatment, including antivenom, which improved his condition. Dr. Hussein Bushnak, acting director of the emergency medicine department, stated that the patient was confused, vomiting, sweating profusely, and had very low blood pressure upon arrival. After initial stabilization, he was transferred to the general intensive care unit for further observation.

Following the incident, Ziv Medical Center reiterated safety guidelines for encounters with snakes. They advised immediately calling an ambulance, keeping the victim calm and lying down, immobilizing the bitten limb, and removing tight clothing or jewelry. The hospital also recommended trying to remember the snake's appearance to aid in identifying its species and determining the appropriate treatment.