Three species of indigenous venomous snakes live in Slovenia: the European adder, the European asp, and the horned viper. People are at risk from their bites from early spring to late autumn during various outdoor activities. In the event of a snakebite, appropriate first aid and subsequent medical care are of crucial importance. The aim of the research presented in this article was to determine the level of first aid skills in the event of a snakebite among hikers, mountaineers, and sport climbers. An online survey questionnaire was filled out by 176 people. The majority of respondents knew which snake species are venomous in Slovenia; however, their identification of snakes in photos was poor, with the horned viper being recognized most frequently. The responders were familiar with individual first aid actions in the event of a venomous snakebite; nevertheless, two-thirds of them would bandage the affected limb, which is inappropriate. First aid training for hikers, mountaineers, and sport climbers should emphasize the harm in bandaging the wounded limb while administering first aid after a snakebite, and focus on preventive measures to minimize the risk of venomous snakebites.
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