Snake Bite Information
Snake Bites
Of the world's 25
most deadly snakes, Australia is home to 21 of them. The perceived threat of
snake bites is one of the most common fears for people planning to travel in
Outback Australia, especially overseas tourists.
Contrary to popular
belief, however, snake bites are not a major cause of death for people in
Australia. In 1997, six people died of snake bites (Australian
Bureau of Statistics)
It is important for
everyone to know what action to take after a real or suspected snake bite. The
action taken immediately is crucial for the patient's recovery.
What snake is it?
Being able to
identify the snake will help the doctor pick the right anti-venom quickly. But
if you don't know what type of snake it was, don't guess. Doctors can use a
'venom-detection kit' to determine what type of snake bit you and which
anti-venom to use.
If you don't know for
certain what type of snake bit you, don't guess. Don't assume because it was
brown that it was a 'brown snake'. It could be disastrous if the doctor gave you
anti-venom for the wrong snake bite.
Stay still and
apply pressure
Most snake bites are
to the lower limbs. It is most important that you stay still and apply pressure
to the bitten area, preferably with firm bandages, about as tight as you would
bind a sprained ankle. Do not apply a tourniquet. Splint the whole area to
immobilise.
Don't take off jeans
or other clothing, as the movement involved could help the venom enter and
travel through the bloodstream. Do not try and force the venom out of the bitten
area. This will only push the venom further into the bloodstream.
Once the area is
bandaged and splinted, it will be comfortable and can be left on for several
hours. Do not take off the bandage until you reach medical care, or it reaches
you. The doctor will decide when to remove the bandages, usually when the
anti-venom is prepared and ready to be administered.
Taking this action
will help prevent venom from spreading through your body and bringing on severe
symptoms. It also means you will need less anti-venom and will suffer from less
anti-venom side effects.
Have you been
bitten?
Australian snake
bites often are not painful and you might not realise you have been bitten. Take
note of the following symptoms:
-
Continued bleeding
from bite site
-
Tender or painful
regional lymph nodes
-
Headache, nausea,
vomiting, abdominal pain
-
Sudden and perhaps
transient hypotension (abnormally low blood pressure) which may cause partial
loss of consciousness
-
Blurred or double
vision
-
Facial paralysis
-
Voluntary muscle
weakness and the diaphragm may be paralysed progressively.
How do you get
medical help?
If you are travelling
in Outback Australia always carry a radio and if you are bitten by a snake,
contact the
Flying Doctors on your radio as soon as possible. They will give you advice and
make arrangements to fly in to provide medical assistance. Also remember to
contact your boss (if working at the time) and your insurance company too.
NO RESPONSIBILITY CAN
BE ACCEPTED BY TIMSAXON.CO.UK FOR ACTIONS TAKEN AS A RESULT OF INFORMATION
CONTAINED HERE, IT IS PURELY FOR REFERENCE.
(Information
mainly sourced from the Australian Flying Doctors Website)
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