Preventing snake bites

Follow the advice listed below if you're in an area where venomous snakes are found:

• look out for warning notices on heaths and commons
• wear boots and long trousers
• never pick up a snake, even if you think it's harmless or it appears dead
• never put your hand in a hole or crevice (for example, between rocks)  if you need to retrieve something, stand well back and use a stick to reach it
• if you find yourself very close to a snake, stand completely still most snakes only strike at moving targets, so the snake will escape without harming you if you remain calm and still

Travelling abroad

If you're bitten by a snake while abroad, you should assume it's a medical emergency and contact the relevant emergency medical services.

If you're travelling to an area where there's a risk of being bitten by a snake, make sure you know how to contact emergency medical services in that country.

When travelling abroad, carry a first aid kit that contains medications, such as painkillers, antacids (for indigestion ) and rehydration sachets (for diarrhoea ). It should also include plasters, non-adherent dressings and bandages, insect repellent, and sun cream.

They're quite short, growing up to a maximum of 75cm (2ft 6in) long.

Adders have a large head and slit-shaped pupils.

Males are usually grey with black markings, and females are usually brown with darker brown markings.

However, sometimes adders can be silver, yellow, green or completely black.

The adder is common throughout mainland Britain and some islands off the west coast of Scotland, including some of the Inner Hebridean Islands.

Adders can sometimes be confused with grass snakes, which are longer (up to 120cm, or 3ft 11in).

Grass snakes are greenish, grey or brown with black flecks or bands, and have a characteristic yellow collar behind their head. They're fast moving and are often found near water.