Personal blog of Chris Ergatides

I see that many people are still not aware of the various ways to insert a euro € symbol into their various e-mails, blog posts, IMs etc. and so I’m hoping that these tips will help somebody out there. If you are one of those people, read on!

As I constantly have two operating systems running at the same time, mainly Fedora Core 13 and Windows XP, the way that I have found works nicely in both is quite simply to hold down the Alt key which is to the right of the spacebar, then hit 4 which is typically also where the dollar $ symbol is on my keyboards.

If you are on Windows however and the above tip does not work for you for some reason, try the next one. Again, hold down the Alt key which is to the right of your keyboard and then on your numeric keypad, type 0128 and then release your Alt key.

Let me know if this works for you.

This article is part of this one.

1. Calm
   When treated correctly, poisonous snake bites have seldom serious, irreversible consequences. Calm the patient, let him sit or lie in the shade. Snake bites create shock and fear which is often more dangerous than the poisoning.
2. Ligature
   Bitten extremities should be ligatured as fast as possible towards the heart. Use an elastic bandage or piece of cloth, never string because it cuts in. Important: The ligature should not be a complete strangulation but has to be applied so as to still feel the pulse. The ligatured limb can get blue but not white. By the ligature it is avoided that the poison spreads too fast in the bloodstream thus saving time to get to a doctor.
3. Disinfection
   Disinfect  the bite with alcohol, iodine or Merfen on a clean cloth or gauze thus avoiding an infection of the wound and wiping off remaining poison on the skin.
4. Immobilisation
   Immobilise the limb (like a bone fracture). The immobilisation avoids better blood circulation because of unnecessary movements.
5. Transport
   Bring the patient as fast as possible to the nearest hospital or clinic. The patient should avoid any stress. Loosen the ligature every 15 minutes for 2 minutes until reaching the doctor. Do not leave the ligature for more than an hour and a half.
6. Information
   In every hospital or clinic in Cyprus there is antidote available. Nobody has to panic, the medical assistance is sufficient.
7. Precautions

• Do not walk barefoot.
• Tread firmly.
• Particular caution at nightbreak.
• Do not turn twigs or stones around without being sure that there is no snake hiding.
• Do not sit or lie anywhere before having checked the place.
• Do not hit snakes! Most of the snakes bite only in self-defence. Be cautious when touching “dead” snakes.

This article is part of this one.

	Aglyphic Type all teeth unfurrowed harmless Typlops vermicularis Coluber jugularis Coluber cypriensis Coluber nummifer
	Opitholypic Type teeth in the rear upper jaw bigger and furrowed poison gland with duct to poison fangs Malpolon monpessulanis Telescopus fallax
	Proteroglypic Type front teeth in upper jaw with closed furrows Eaxample: Cobras (Naja), Mambas (Dendroaspis) not in Cyprus
	Solenoglyphic Type front teeth in upper jaw with closed poison duct poison fangs mobile in Cyprus Vipera lebetina lebetina

This article is part of this one.

Vipera lebetina lebetina (Linnaus 1758)
Family: Vipera

Bluntnosed Viper – very venomous

CHARACTERISTICS
Big strong viper with a sturdy head that is clearly distinguishable from the neck. Relatively small eyes with perpendicular slit pupils and keeled scales. The colour is whitish-grey, straw-yellow till rustbrown. On the back there are two rows of ochre-coloured staggered transverse patches.

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This article is part of this one.

Telescopus fallax (Fleischmann 1831)
Family: Colubridae Boiginae

Catsnake – venomous

CHARACTERISTICS
Slim snake with the head clearly distinguishable from the neck, eyes with perpendicularly slit pupils and a body covered with smooth scales. The colour is grey or brownish. On the back and other parts of the body there are dark patches. The creamcoloured rosy abdomen is normally dark freckled.

Length up to 1m.

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