Danger Lurks Not Just From Mines
On 2nd October 2019, while performing his usual demining tasks on mine clearance project at the Končulj - Singerit site in the Municipality of Bujanovac, deminer Davor Koprivica (1952) from Sarajevo, engaged by Stop Mines contractor, was bitten by a snake.
At the time of a regular break, deminer put his protective vest down on the ground, unaware of the danger lurking outside the mine contaminated area.
Namely, after the break, while preparing to return to his working lane, he lifted his protective vest from the ground and felt sudden, sharp pain while dressing up. It was a bite of a viper that crept into his protective vest while it laid on the ground. Davor Koprivica, who has been in the business for 24 years, at first thought it was a thorn in the left thumb, but given the sharpness of the pain and swelling, he soon realized that it was a viper. He saw it for a moment and deliberately let it go. He has encountered many snakes so far and he never wanted to hurt or kill any of them, so he did not want this one either.
He was immediately transported to the hospital in Bujanovac, 17 km away from the work site, by the contractor's ambulance. He was given first aid there, after which he was transported to the hospital in Vranje. He is currently at the infectology department where he is under medical supervision. Recovery goes well and the deminer is expected to be released in few days.
Director of the Mine Action Center, Mr Bojan Glamočlija, immediately upon being informed of this incident, visited the injured deminer at the hospital in Vranje, together with Mr Ali Aslani, Chief of the Emergency Management Staff of the Municipality of Bujanovac. In a heartfelt conversation, they wished Davor a speedy recovery and return to the demining work lane to continue "fight" this time with mines.
As a socially responsible institution, the Mine Action Center will continue to care for the safety of deminers who risk their lives to ensure the safety of other citizens.
To prevent such cases from happening in the future, we urge increased attention and maximum security measures to be taken not only by deminers, but also by ordinary citizens residing in nature where insects and reptiles can be encountered. People should pay special attention to where they stand, sit or lower their arms, since bites are most common on legs and arms.
