This is in line with the interim orders passed by the Supreme Court in this regard, following petitions filed by Kulathoor Jaisingh and others on how the state should do more to protect children from snakebites. After this, the chief secretary had convened a meeting of the departments of General Education, Forest & Nature, Local Self-Governments; Rajiv Gandhi Center for Bio-technology and National Institute of Virology, Kerala Unit, Alappuzha for their input in preparing the safety guidelines.
The new guidelines require schools to conduct detailed safety audits and maintain full emergency preparedness.
According to the circular, every school must conduct a thorough safety audit of its infrastructure, including classrooms, electrical systems, sanitation, playgrounds and boundary walls, to ensure that there are no hazards such as open manholes, broken floors, exposed wires or overgrown vegetation that could attract snakes or pose health risks.
First aid room
Each school must have a well-equipped first aid room and ensure that at least two staff members are trained in first aid, CPR and emergency wound care. Contact information for nearby hospitals, ambulance services and public health officials must be clearly visible on school grounds.
A children’s emergency medical response plan should be developed and displayed in all schools, detailing the steps to be taken during medical emergencies, including snakebite incidents. Schools are directed to coordinate with the nearest primary health center or taluk hospital to ensure availability of anti-poison and pediatric medical care. They must also identify and seal snake entry points and engage authorized snake handlers through the Forest Department.
Mock exercises
The guidelines emphasize on regular practice exercises in coordination with the District Disaster Management Authority to ensure preparedness for emergencies such as snake bites, fires, floods or earthquakes.
The Ministry of Health has drawn up a detailed action plan to prevent snakebite incidents in schools, combining environmental management, awareness programs and emergency training.
Schools should maintain a snake-proof environment by sealing holes and gaps, removing vegetation, and avoiding the storage of firewood or debris near classrooms. Students should be instructed to use only clear paths and avoid walking barefoot, and their bags and shoes should not be left unattended outside classrooms.
Schools are required to hold periodic awareness sessions, distribute educational materials and include modules on snakebite prevention and safety in the curriculum, including the NCC manual. Programs such as Sarpa Suraksha and Sarpa Paadam – conducted by SARPA volunteers under the Forest Department – will continue to monitor school premises for the presence of venomous snakes and educate students about snake safety. Contact details of snake handlers/rescuers must be maintained at the facility level
Crucial ‘golden hour’
All schools must train staff in providing first aid for snake bites, maintain updated contact lists of hospitals with anti-snake venom (ASV) supplies, and know the nearest ambulance and emergency transport options. Immediate medical attention during the ‘golden hour’ after a bite is crucial and victims should be transported lying down, without being allowed to walk or run.
The Health Ministry has ensured availability of ASV in all hospitals at taluk level and appointed nodal officers to monitor snakebite management. Schools will work with Family Health Center medical officers for training and emergency response.
Do’s and don’ts
The health department has also determined that some traditional or inappropriate practices should be avoided in case of snakebite.
Do not wash the wound or interfere with the bite wound (such as making incisions, suctioning, rubbing, tattooing, vigorous cleaning, massaging, applying herbs or chemicals, cryotherapy, cautery), as this may cause infection, increase venom absorption and increase local bleeding.
The government has instructed district officials to conduct periodic inspections to verify compliance, stressing that “no delay should be allowed in initiating emergency response.”
Published – Nov 11, 2025 4:53 PM IST
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