The first thing to know about treating someone suffering from a snake bite is NOT to apply a tourniquet. That method is no longer recommended and is now outdated.
(Also don’t get any ideas about trying to suck the venom out of the snake bite either, that one’s strictly for the Hollywood movies!!!)
Your first action for a snake bite is NOT a tourniquet
The first thing you should do when someone is bitten by a snake is to dial 000 and get an ambulance on the way. Tell the Triple Zero operator as much detail as you can about the person, the possible description of the snake and give them accurate directions to find you.
The next thing to do is to help the victim remain calm and still. (It is highly likely the person will be stressing out so ensure they do not move around or get too agitated as that only spreads any venom through their body faster.)
Make them as comfortable as possible and keep them still. It's important to immobilise the limb that has been bitten and keep it that way. Don't let them move it. This helps reduce the spread of venom through the body.
Pressure bandages are the best way to treat a snake bite
Once you have the person calm and still, next apply a pressure bandage to the bite area. Most often the bite will be on the person's foot, leg, hand or arm. (It's rare for someone to be bitten on the body by a snake.)
If you don’t have a bandage of any form, tear a T-shirt into a long cloth bandage or use a towel, scarf, or anything you can wrap firmly around the limb where the snake bite is.
Work by wrapping the bandage from the bottom of the limb up over the bite area and continue as far up the limb as you have bandage. Mark the area of the bite on the bandage to make it easier for the ambulance crew or paramedics.
Then, if you can, apply a splint to keep the limb straight and still. Use a stick, pole, anything you can find. Fix the split to the limb by again wrapping any form of bandage or cloth you can around it.
If the bite is NOT on a limb, apply any form of bandage you can find to the bite area and then apply firm pressure with your hands to the wound area.
What to do after you apply the pressure bandage to the snake bite
After applying the pressure bandage, continue to keep the person calm and still. If they go into shock or cardiac arrest, you will need to apply CPR. If you are trained in this, great, you will know what to do, but even if you are not, it's best to try to simply pump their chest in any way you can.
If the person does not go into shock or cardiac arrest remain with them until the ambulance or medical assistance arrives, continuing to provide comfort and support.
Try to note down what you can about the approximate time of the bite, the description of the snake if you saw it, the time you applied the bandage, etc. This will all help the ambulance crew.
Remember, death from snake bite is actually very rare
Australia does have 21 of the 25 most venomous snakes in the world. But despite this fact, death from snake bite in this country is fairly rare. While there are over 3,000 reported snake bites reported every year, the number of fatalities is only 1 or 2.
While ambulances themselves don't tend to carry anti-venom for snake bites, every hospital and almost every medical centre does. So once the victim is taken to hospital or a medical centre, their chances of survival are very high. If you have immobilised the limb and applied a pressure bandage, any venom in the body will tend to stay in the immediate area of the bite, giving the person time to be treated with anti-venom.
So, always remind your snakebite victim their chances of recovery are really high. This will help to reassure them, which is one of the most important parts of helping them to survive by keeping them calm. Along with knowing what to do with the bandage, of course.
First Aid courses are ideal for bushwalkers and hikers who are the most likely snake bite victims
If you go out in the bush a lot, go hiking often or are in a bushwalking group, why not get a group of you together and book into a first aid course? It can be an excellent thing for you all to do together and it means that if any of you get bitten by snake, have a fall or an accident, you will know exactly what to do.
Our courses are not expensive and you can all train together at our training centre. Or if your group is bigger than 12 people we will come to train you at any location in Victoria. You can also do Blended Training where most of the training is online. It saves you time and is very convenient. You can do it from home or work. All you need to do is your final assessment at our training centre.
To find out more and to book please visit https://www.resultsfirstaid.com/courses
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