Snake Bite Envenomation Australian First Aid

My heart goes out to the family of the poor young lad who died yesterday after being bitten by a Brown Snake.

Everyone who resides in Australia needs to be aware of the dangers of snakebites and although fatal envenomations are rare they obviously can and do occur. Unfortunately most people do not pressure bandage and if they do the bandage is often either too loose or too tight.

Most people who are bitten have either been trying to handle the snake or have stepped on or near one or have been climbing among rocks and when reaching for a handhold unwittingly placed their hand close enough to present a threat to the snake.

To avoid a potential snakebite we need to be aware that we should wear appropriate footwear and clothing in their territory - decent boots, socks and long trousers for example. Be prepared: Preferably attend a first aid course so you know what you are doing.

Carry with you at least one 7.5cm wide and two or three 15cm wide HEAVY Crepe Bandages which are usually brown in colour. The lighter white crepe bandages tend to loosen up very quickly after they have been applied. Also carry one or two triangular bandages which you can use to splint the limb. Stick these into a plastic bag together with a dressing and a marker pen so you can mark the spot where the bite occurred on top of the bandages.

Suggestion
It is a good idea to practice with your bandage around someones arm or leg. Compare one limb with another to see if your tension is firm enough without cutting of the blood supply.

Treatment Note this same treatment can be applied to envenomations from Funnel Web Spiders, Coneshell and Blue ringed octopus envenomations.

In the event of a snakebite try to calm the casualty. Ask them to lay down and keep as still as possible. The reason for this is that you need to slow down their lymph system. Do not raise the limb you are bandaging - keep it as flat as you can.

Make sure the ambulance has been called. In Australia call 000 or 112 from your mobile and be specific about which state you are in and your exact location. Do not hang up till you are told to.

You may see fang marks, a scratch or bruise or maybe even the wet saliva like substance of the venom on a trouser leg or sleeve. If you are not sure take no chances and treat for snakebite anyway. That way you have nothing to lose have you?

Place a dressing; preferably plastic or gladwrap, over the site of the bite. Although it is possible to test the venom if it has soaked into a bandage, it is obviously going to be easier to test if the venom has not soaked in. Don't worry - leaving it there will not cause any further problem.

How to apply the bandages

It is important not to bandage too tightly, You are NOT trying to restrict the flow of blood, it is the lymph system you are trying to restrict. Apparently the fangs of Australian snakes are not as long as some of the overseas varieties.

Keep reassuring the casualty. Using the same tension as you would if you were bandaging a sprained ankle, take the smaller bandage and wind it over the site of the bite in a figure of eight fashion. Take one of your larger bandages and start at the lower end of the limb ie hand or foot and wind the bandage all the way from the bottom to the top as far as you can go. When one bandage is used up, anchor another one over it and carry on up the limb. Do not bandage downwards. Work quickly and don't forget to mark the site of the bite.

Next use the triangular bandages to splint one leg to the other around the ankles and knees or in the case of an arm to secure the arm to the side of the body. Remember we do not want to elevate the limb. We are trying to prevent the venom from entering the blood system.

Be prepared to do CPR.

Bring help to the person. Do not move the person toward the help. You need to keep them still until the Ambulance or Flying Doctor arrives.