October 13, 2009—Quick! What should you do if a venomous snake slithers into your workplace? A two-day course in Australia has the answers.

© 2009 National Geographic (AP)

Unedited Transcript

It's lunchtime for this snake at a sanctuary in Echunga, South Australia.

Reptile researcher and breeder Sonia Dewdney uses about 40 of her snakes to run training courses. Theyre designed to teach people how to handle encounters with venomous snakes.

One of the first things the students are taught in the 2-day program is that snakes are not aggressive animals, and are drawn to enclosed spaces for safety.

The students wear tough boots and lower leg protection, and are given the chance to get used to the presence of venomous snakes while they crawl around their feet.

Dewdney runs much of her training on location at Australia mines.

SOUNDBITE (English) Sonia Dewdney, Reptile Researcher and Breeder: "Under the occupational health and safety regulations in Australia, if a person is going to be in a situation in their workplace where they are likely to encounter a snake, then they need to be trained appropriately how to deal with that situation."

Students are taught how to catch a snake using a canvas bag so that it can be relocated to a safer area.

Snakes are protected by law in Australia, and cannot be killed unless they directly threaten life.

Most bites occur when people try to kill or capture snakes.

Generally it's not advised to approach them, but sometimes it's unavoidable.

During the classroom sessions, students learn about snake behavior and the science of snake bites and symptoms. And they're taught how to administer first aid.

Reptile breeders such as Dewdney often use plastic tubes to handle venomous snakes, and this also allows the students to come face to face with some of the world's most dangerous animals at close quarters.

Dewdney says people's pre-conceived fears about snakes can completely change once they've done the course.

SOUNDBITE (English) Sonia Dewdney, Reptile Researcher and Breeder: "Unfortunately there is still the mentality of pulling out a shovel and we see quite a lot of that, but even after an hour and a half snake training session I find that that mentality will be changed around totally."

The participants on this course have a range of reasons for undertaking the training.

SOUNDBITE (English): Max Dewdney, Snake-Handling Student: "I work as an environmental advisor which puts me in a lot of fairly remote locations often with oil and gas and mining industries. And there are a number of situations, whether it's trenching or servicing well-heads or that sort of thing, where personnel may encounter venomous snakes which will then need to be removed."

Australia is home to 20 of the world's 25 most venomous snake species, according to the Australian Venom Research Unit at the University of Melbourne.

And Sonia Dewdney believes demand for snake-handling courses