Q COSTARICA — The Clodomiro Picado Institute (ICP) of the Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR) announced the launch of the free mobile application “ICP App”, which makes it easier for people to identify the 25 venomous snakes found in the country and what to do in case of a bite.
This is an educational and informational application developed by the Clodomiro Picado Institute, part of the University of Costa Rica. Its objective is to provide information about the main venomous snake species in Costa Rica.
The app is now ready to download on both Android and iOS devices via the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
The app is free.
According to Dr. Andrés Hernández Bolaños, pharmaceutical director of the ICP-UCR and driving force behind the initiative, the idea for this app arose from the numerous and frequent inquiries the UCR receives from people sending photos of snakes to determine if they are dangerous.
For Dr. Hernández, these inquiries highlight the widespread lack of knowledge that persists among Costa Rican citizens regarding these animals, which underscores the urgent need for the country to have accessible tools—such as those available on mobile phones—that allow people to quickly and easily obtain information and act with scientific rigor.
Furthermore, with a tool backed by robust scientific evidence provided by the Clodomiro Picado Institute, which emerged in 1970 from a program promoted by the Ministry of Health of Costa Rica to develop national capacity to produce therapeutic antivenoms and the UCR, people no longer depend on information found online or in artificial intelligence tools, which could be inaccurate and even life-threatening.
“Almost every day we receive a photo of a snake, and people ask us what kind it is and if it’s venomous. Sometimes, they even tell us that the snake has already been killed, which is completely unnecessary. So, seeing that this was a constant occurrence, and that the need for information was there, we decided to promote this mobile application to provide scientifically sound information. We did this with the help of Fernando Morales Cascante, a student in the Computer Systems Engineering program, who helped us bring the idea to fruition,” Hernández explained.
Having immediate information, Hernández says, can make all the difference when encountering a snake. This benefits not only the public but also healthcare personnel. By strengthening the correct identification of a snake, medical decision-making in the event of a bite can be improved.
“Knowing what to do, or what not to do, can greatly clarify the situation and avoid conflicts or confusion. Having the information at hand, knowing which snakes a person might encounter in certain circumstances and how to act, can help provide greater clarity, better control of the environment, and prevent panic,” Hernández added.
In addition to first aid guides for bites, the application provides information about the Institute’s work, antivenom production, and the ICP-UCR’s official distributors internationally.
“This application can also be used by people who have suffered an accident to indicate the geographic area where it occurred, allowing the doctor, when issuing the report, to specify the type of snake that may have caused the incident. This is being coordinated with the Ministry of Health to gather more epidemiological data in the country,” Yamileth Angulo Ugalde, director of the ICP-UCR, explained.
The application also includes information on twelve commonly confused non-venomous snake species. Facilitating their identification is also important to avoid unnecessary reactions.
In the future, the Clodomiro Picado Institute at the University of Costa Rica plans to integrate artificial intelligence to identify snakes from photographs and collect georeferenced data on sightings.