With spring coming into full bloom, it's time for our old Australian wildlife to come out and play. Unfortunately for some, that includes many infamous slithering snakes, so brush up on your snake bite protocol with some information sourced from Red Cross Australia and Health Direct.
About Snake Bites:
Australia has about 140 species of land snake, and around 32 species of sea snakes have been recorded in Australian waters.
Around 100 Australian snakes are venomous, although only 12 are likely to inflict a wound that could kill you. These include Taipans, Brown Snakes, Tiger Snakes, Death Adders, Black Snakes, Copperhead Snakes, Rough Scaled Snakes as well as some sea snakes.
Most snake bites happen when people try to kill or capture them. If you come across a snake, don't panic. Back away to a safe distance and let it move away. Snakes often want to escape when disturbed. You're too big for them to eat, after all, and they're more scared of you than you are of them.
The Different Types of Snake Bites:
Dry Bites:
A dry bite is when the snake strikes but no venom is released. Dry bites will be painful and may cause swelling and redness around the area of the snake bite.
Because you can’t tell if a snake’s bite is a dry bite, always assume that you have been injected with venom and manage the bite as a medical emergency. Once medically assessed, there is usually no need for further treatment. Many snake bites in Australia do not result in envenomation, and so they can be managed without antivenom.
Venomous Bites:
Venomous bites are when the snake bites and releases venom into a wound. Snake venom contains poisons that are designed to stun, numb or kill other animals.
Symptoms of a venomous bite include:
- severe pain around the bite (this might come on later)
- swelling, bruising or bleeding from the bite
- bite marks on the skin (these might be obvious puncture wounds or almost invisible small scratches)
- swollen and tender glands in the armpit or groin of the limb that has been bitten
- tingling, stinging, burning or abnormal feelings of the skin
- feeling anxious
- nausea (feeling sick) or vomiting (being sick)
- dizziness
- blurred vision
- headache
- breathing difficulties
- problems swallowing
- stomach pain
- irregular heartbeat
- muscle weakness
- confusion
- blood oozing from the site or gums
- collapse
- paralysis, coma or death (in the most severe cases)
In Australia, there are about 2 deaths a year from venomous snake bites.
Snake Identification:
Identification of venomous snakes can be made from venom present on clothing or the skin using a ‘venom detection kit’. For this reason, do not wash or suck the bite or discard clothing.
Do not try to catch or kill the snake to identify it. Medical services do not rely on visual identification of the snake species. You will only put yourself at risk.
Antivenom is available for all venomous Australian snake bites.
First Aid for Snake Bites:
All snake bites must be treated as potentially life-threatening. If someone is bitten by a snake, get help immediately.
- Keep the person at rest, reassured and under observation.
- Dial 000.
- Do not wash venom off the skin or clothes.
- Begin CPR if necessary. 30 chest compressions per 2 breaths.
- If bitten on a limb, apply a firm bandage on the bite site. Ensure the limb is immobilised and the person remains still.
- Work the bandage from the limb foot or hand upwards, working towards the heart and covering as much of the limb as possible. If you can, apply a splint to keep the limb immobile.
- Keep the person still and reassured until medical attention arrives.
Avoid washing the bite area because any venom left on the skin can help identify the snake.
DO NOT apply a tourniquet, cut the wound or attempt to suck the venom out.
A pressure immobilisation bandage is recommended for anyone bitten by a venomous snake. This involves firmly bandaging the area of the body involved, such as the arm or leg, and keeping the person calm and still until medical help arrives.
Follow these steps to apply a pressure immobilisation bandage:
- First, put a pressure bandage over the bite itself. It should be tight and you should not be able to easily slide a finger between the bandage and the skin.
- Then use a heavy crepe or elasticised roller bandage to immobilise the whole limb. Start just above the fingers or toes of the bitten limb, and move upwards on the limb as far as the body. Splint the limb including joints on either side of the bite.
- Keep the person and the limb completely at rest. If possible, mark the site of the bite on the bandage with a pen.
Anaphylactic Shock:
Snake bites can be painful. Occasionally some people have a severe allergic reaction to being bitten. In cases of severe allergic reaction, the whole body can react within minutes to the bite, which can lead to anaphylactic shock (anaphylaxis). Anaphylactic shock is very serious and can be fatal.
Symptoms of anaphylactic shock may include:
- difficult or noisy breathing
- difficulty talking and/or hoarse voice
- a swollen tongue
- persistent dizziness or collapse
- swelling or tightness in the throat
- pale and floppy (young children)
- wheeze or persistent cough
- abdominal pain or vomiting
Call triple zero (000) for an ambulance. If the person has a ‘personal action plan’ to manage a known severe allergy, they may need assistance to follow their plan. This may include administering adrenaline via an autoinjector (such as an Epipen®) if one is available.
Snake Bite Equipment:
Fortunately, snake bite kits and combined spider/snake bite kits are easy to find and use, and come with easy to follow Symptoms and Treatment guides. It is highly recommended one of these kits is included in your first-aid kit. They could very easily save somebody's life. Additionally, clothing made to prevent snake bites can be invaluable in high-snake-risk workplaces, and Snake Bite Bandages are available individually.
For further information, view the Red Cross Australia and Health Direct pages about Snake Bites
