Saturday, September 12, 2009

Disinfect the Swiss Army knife.

A visit to Juaquin.
The guardsman of the resort project a mile down the beach of El Triple.

He had been collecting oysters in the morning and had made himself a delicious ceviche.
Immediately he got out two plates to share his food with the visitor.
Who politely refused as he had his lunch already.
Instead, he offered a large box of excellent cookies brought from the town of La Paz .

Juaquin first asked why the hand was bandaged.
Wanted to know all the details how this happened.

Then he told that the very morning he had escaped death himself.
He had waken up while it was still dark and had gotten out of his Terry trailer to take a leak.
When not 5 meters away from the RV, he heard the sharp sound of a rattlesnake shaking the bones of its tail.
He looked down and saw right next to his leg this big rattlesnake.
Juaquin screamed.
He said that his hair on his head straightened upright as if he was hit by 120 volts.
One of his three dogs, the female one, immediately jumped from underneath the Terry trailer, attacked the dangerous and deadly snake and incapacitated it.
The two male dogs remained where they were: sleeping safely underneath the RV.
The snake disabled, Juaquin could crush its head with a stone and then have his bladder finally emptied.

This is a very serious matter.
Rattlesnakes can be extremely dangerous.
They will attack if they can and preferably bite in the ankles.
If the rattlesnake is of a reasonable size, the amount of poison it will make enter the human body will be deadly.
Only a run to a hospital where they have a serum can save the life.

And that is exactly the problem.
Juaquin is in his Terry trailer at El Triple without any transportation.
His old battered pick up truck is with his son in the agricultural community about 40 miles from where he is.
Hence, Juaquin was very shaken.
And could hardly forgive himself he didn't get out of the trailer that morning with his flashlight.
If he had been bitten that morning by the rattle snake, friend Juaquin would have been probably found dead.

Question!
If there is a rattlesnake near Juaquin's location, how about near the Fuso Szulc?

Until now Juaquin has killed near his Terry trailer 4 large rattlesnakes.
They obviously live under all the many heaps of building materials near his trailer.
Feeding on rodents and lizards that enjoy the food rests coming from the inhabitant of the Terry trailer.
For example, Juaquin washes his dishes outside and cleans fish and oysters there too.
Leaving food around while in fact the surroundings should be kept meticulously clean.

This period of retreat not one rattlesnake has been spotted near the Fuso Szulc yet.
One reason is that the area underneath and around the Fuso Szulc is kept completely clean.
And never when it is dark the Fuso Szulc is left without the Mag-Lite flashlight.
Even during the day, always the road ahead is watched for possible presence of rattlesnakes.
More so than ever because the recent fatal fall in La Paz has learned that alertness can slip.
In the end, the fatal fall occurred because attention was diverted to study a light switch that was carried in the hand.
While attention in La Paz with its uneven payments must always be on where exactly the feet are placed.
Like in El Triple where a fatal fall of alertness may offer a rattlesnake the chance to send the dilettante straight to the cemetery.

And then there was another problem Juaquin was having.
He is hired by the US project developer to guard the building site.
Getting $ 600 per month to be there 24/24, 7/7, 30/30.
But he hasn't been paid this month until now.
That's 12 days without a salary.
And a man like Juaquin living and working in the Mexican economy, that is in a deep crises, has no money in reserve.
He has two children that are studying in La Paz.
One in college, one in university.
That has to stop soon if Juaquin's salary is not paid quickly.

Juaquin doesn't know why he is not getting his money.
His wife called the office of the Mexican building company that takes care of paying the guardsmen Leonardo at La Ballena and Juaquin at El Triple.
It was said the money would be there the next day, but nothing was received or delivered.

The US project developer wants to build a resort at El Triple.
An exclusive hotel.
Besides 46 holiday houses.
A huge project with serious impacts on the environment.
Manhattanisation of a beautiful location.
But right now it already seems to be a problem to pay the guardsmen in time.

Meanwhile, the bandage has been taken off the unfortunate hand.
For the first time since the fatal fall one week ago.
And it looked good.
Dry.
No infection.
Partly healed.


Some swimming was even possible in the warm ocean because seawater is good for wounds doctor Guzman said.
After the wonderful swim, new bandage was applied and now a big moment is coming.
In about four days it will be possible to take out the stitches.

The normal procedure is to go to the hospital and have a doctor or nurse do this job.
When doctor Guzman heard that the patient will be far away from the hospital at a location next to the Pacific Ocean, he said that a courageous and brave person could also do it herself/himself.
So, that is what has to happen.
To transform the interior of the Fuso Szulc into an operating theatre.
Paint a large red cross on the outside of the expedition vehicle.
To dress up in a white coat and to put a stethoscope around the neck.
To disinfect the Swiss army knife.
And to get the threads out.
Somehow.




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3 comments:

Dawn Pier said...

Michel, You write: "They will attack if they can and preferably bite in the ankles."

I have to take exception of your portrayal of rattlesnakes as aggressive. While I agree that they are dangerous and you must take the necessary precautions, the reality is that the rattlesnakes rattle is in fact only used when they feel aggression is being directed AT them. They prefer to slither away if they think escape is possible. They are retiring and not aggressive at all and only want to be left in peace.

Please do take your flashlight with you always at night, but if you see a snake just let him do what is natural to him and he will leave you alone.

Fred Wishnie said...

Piece of cake - just snip the stitch and pull quickly on the end with the knot. Best to apply some Neosporin or Polysporin for a few days.

Heal quickly,

rajendar menen said...

Another thing i used to do while living in the jungle was to carry a thick stick and thump it on the ground while walking. The vibration tells the snakes that someone is coming and they slither away. Snakes dont attack. They want peace. They attack only for food and if they feel threatened. Also always wear ankle length shoes. And at home check under pillows and bed and in the toilet and kitchen if they are hiding, particularly in the wet weather. Snakes do not want to fight for the fun of it like humans do. No animal wants to. They have very valid reasons for all their fights. Human beings are a different species altogether!