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not sure if you are wondering if it's worth risking the walk to car and the 45mins drive.....also not familiar with the snakes in your area...but in FNQ that would be a fatal mistake with taipain.
First Aid and snake bite information + links
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With a true invenomation it could be a fatal mistake anywhere in Australia with a number of species. Without some form of communication or PLB/EPIRB you could really be up shit creek without a paddle.Stru said:
Be very clear:
A PLB is not a Get Out of Jail Free card.
Depending upon myriad circumstances it may take search and rescue up
to 24 hours to find you and, even then, they are not going to be able to
treat you for any specific injury.
Do not consider a PLB suddenly gives you immunity to death - it doesn't.
But it will make it easier to find your body.
If you are bitten by one of our many friendly, but kind of deadly, snakes
(it's not personal btw) your best bet is to pressure bandage as a first
course. If done well (and that's hard if you are doing it on yourself,
especially if you're 60 and overweight! I know this) you should last 6 to
18 hours with a back wind - no guarantees.
What you do next depends upon the circumstances; if you're 10 minutes
drive from a hospital then I suggest driving.
If you're two hours hard 4WDing and another hour on the bitumen then
radio/sat phone and beg for a helicopter is probably a good move. I
doubt they'll send one.
Failing the above; stay calm and write a few notes to your loved ones.
If the concept of dying from snakebite really concerns you then I suggest
you stay out of the bush.
Let's see if I can attach a PDF to this post....
https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/doc/member-docs/11269/1509173269_snake_bite_symptoms.pdf
A PLB is not a Get Out of Jail Free card.
Depending upon myriad circumstances it may take search and rescue up
to 24 hours to find you and, even then, they are not going to be able to
treat you for any specific injury.
Do not consider a PLB suddenly gives you immunity to death - it doesn't.
But it will make it easier to find your body.
If you are bitten by one of our many friendly, but kind of deadly, snakes
(it's not personal btw) your best bet is to pressure bandage as a first
course. If done well (and that's hard if you are doing it on yourself,
especially if you're 60 and overweight! I know this) you should last 6 to
18 hours with a back wind - no guarantees.
What you do next depends upon the circumstances; if you're 10 minutes
drive from a hospital then I suggest driving.
If you're two hours hard 4WDing and another hour on the bitumen then
radio/sat phone and beg for a helicopter is probably a good move. I
doubt they'll send one.
Failing the above; stay calm and write a few notes to your loved ones.
If the concept of dying from snakebite really concerns you then I suggest
you stay out of the bush.
Let's see if I can attach a PDF to this post....
https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/doc/member-docs/11269/1509173269_snake_bite_symptoms.pdf
peterau
Peter
Struth, walking and driving out is no good, plb might not get me saved in time, hope my sat phone gets reception and I'm good at relating my location. Probably best to detect with someone else but I like detecting on my own, hard to find a good detecting mate sometimes some trips. Might start wearing my gaiters all the time when I'm out detecting in W.A.
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:argh: Just thought to post this Just as a reminder our little friends are out there with us, picked this up from FB.
Like Page
November 8 at 6:53 AM
#SnakeBite
That bite of summer has well and truly come early this year and with that heat, comes snakes.
This article was written by Rob Timmings
Rob runs a medical/nursing education business Teaching nurses, doctors and paramedics. Its well worth the read
#ECT4Health
3000 bites are reported annually.
300-500 hospitalisations
2-3 deaths annually.
Average time to death is 12 hours. The urban myth that you are bitten in the yard and die before you can walk from your chook pen back to the house is a load of rubbish.
While not new, the management of snake bite (like a flood/fire evacuation plan or CPR) should be refreshed each season.
Lets start with a
Basic overview.
There are five genus of snakes that will harm us (seriously)
Browns, Blacks, Adders, Tigers and Taipans.
All snake venom is made up of huge proteins (like egg white). When bitten, a snake injects some venom into the meat of your limb (NOT into your blood).
This venom can not be absorbed into the blood stream from the bite site.
It travels in a fluid transport system in your body called the lymphatic system (not the blood stream).
Now this fluid (lymph) is moved differently to blood.
Your heart pumps blood around, so even when you are lying dead still, your blood still circulates around the body. Lymph fluid is different. It moves around with physical muscle movement like bending your arm, bending knees, wriggling fingers and toes, walking/exercise etc.
Now here is the thing. Lymph fluid becomes blood after these lymph vessels converge to form one of two large vessels (lymphatic trunks)which are connected to veins at the base of the neck.
Back to the snake bite site.
When bitten, the venom has been injected into this lymph fluid (which makes up the bulk of the water in your tissues).
The only way that the venom can get into your blood stream is to be moved from the bite site in the lymphatic vessels. The only way to do this is to physically move the limbs that were bitten.
Stay still!!! Venom cant move if the victim doesnt move.
Stay still!!
Remember people are not bitten into their blood stream.
In the 1980s a technique called Pressure immobilisation bandaging was developed to further retard venom movement. It completely stops venom /lymph transport toward the blood stream.
A firm roll bandage is applied directly over the bite site (dont wash the area).
Technique:
Three steps: keep them still
Step 1
Apply a bandage over the bite site, to an area about 10cm above and below the bite.
Step 2:
Then using another elastic roller bandage, apply a firm wrap from Fingers/toes all the way to the armpit/groin.
The bandage needs to be firm, but not so tight that it causes fingers or toes to turn purple or white. About the tension of a sprain bandage.
Step 3:
Splint the limb so the patient cant walk or bend the limb.
Do nots:
Do not cut, incise or suck the venom.
Do not EVER use a tourniquet
Dont remove the shirt or pants - just bandage over the top of clothing.
Remember movement (like wriggling out of a shirt or pants) causes venom movement.
DO NOT try to catch, kill or identify the snake!!! This is important.
In hospital we NO LONGER NEED to know the type of snake; it doesnt change treatment.
5 years ago we would do a test on the bite, blood or urine to identify the snake so the correct anti venom can be used.
BUT NOW...
we dont do this. Our new Antivenom neutralises the venoms of all the 5 listed snake genus, so it doesnt matter what snake bit the patient.
Read that again- one injection for all snakes!
Polyvalent is our one shot wonder, stocked in all hospitals, so most hospitals no longer stock specific Antivenins.
Australian snakes tend to have 3 main effects in differing degrees.
Bleeding - internally and bruising.
Muscles paralysed causing difficulty talking, moving & breathing.
Pain
In some snakes severe muscle pain in the limb, and days later the bite site can break down forming a nasty wound.
Allergy to snakes is rarer than winning lotto twice.
Final tips: not all bitten people are envenomated and only those starting to show symptoms above are given antivenom.
Did I mention to stay still.
~Rob Timmings
Like Page
November 8 at 6:53 AM
#SnakeBite
That bite of summer has well and truly come early this year and with that heat, comes snakes.
This article was written by Rob Timmings
Rob runs a medical/nursing education business Teaching nurses, doctors and paramedics. Its well worth the read
#ECT4Health
3000 bites are reported annually.
300-500 hospitalisations
2-3 deaths annually.
Average time to death is 12 hours. The urban myth that you are bitten in the yard and die before you can walk from your chook pen back to the house is a load of rubbish.
While not new, the management of snake bite (like a flood/fire evacuation plan or CPR) should be refreshed each season.
Lets start with a
Basic overview.
There are five genus of snakes that will harm us (seriously)
Browns, Blacks, Adders, Tigers and Taipans.
All snake venom is made up of huge proteins (like egg white). When bitten, a snake injects some venom into the meat of your limb (NOT into your blood).
This venom can not be absorbed into the blood stream from the bite site.
It travels in a fluid transport system in your body called the lymphatic system (not the blood stream).
Now this fluid (lymph) is moved differently to blood.
Your heart pumps blood around, so even when you are lying dead still, your blood still circulates around the body. Lymph fluid is different. It moves around with physical muscle movement like bending your arm, bending knees, wriggling fingers and toes, walking/exercise etc.
Now here is the thing. Lymph fluid becomes blood after these lymph vessels converge to form one of two large vessels (lymphatic trunks)which are connected to veins at the base of the neck.
Back to the snake bite site.
When bitten, the venom has been injected into this lymph fluid (which makes up the bulk of the water in your tissues).
The only way that the venom can get into your blood stream is to be moved from the bite site in the lymphatic vessels. The only way to do this is to physically move the limbs that were bitten.
Stay still!!! Venom cant move if the victim doesnt move.
Stay still!!
Remember people are not bitten into their blood stream.
In the 1980s a technique called Pressure immobilisation bandaging was developed to further retard venom movement. It completely stops venom /lymph transport toward the blood stream.
A firm roll bandage is applied directly over the bite site (dont wash the area).
Technique:
Three steps: keep them still
Step 1
Apply a bandage over the bite site, to an area about 10cm above and below the bite.
Step 2:
Then using another elastic roller bandage, apply a firm wrap from Fingers/toes all the way to the armpit/groin.
The bandage needs to be firm, but not so tight that it causes fingers or toes to turn purple or white. About the tension of a sprain bandage.
Step 3:
Splint the limb so the patient cant walk or bend the limb.
Do nots:
Do not cut, incise or suck the venom.
Do not EVER use a tourniquet
Dont remove the shirt or pants - just bandage over the top of clothing.
Remember movement (like wriggling out of a shirt or pants) causes venom movement.
DO NOT try to catch, kill or identify the snake!!! This is important.
In hospital we NO LONGER NEED to know the type of snake; it doesnt change treatment.
5 years ago we would do a test on the bite, blood or urine to identify the snake so the correct anti venom can be used.
BUT NOW...
we dont do this. Our new Antivenom neutralises the venoms of all the 5 listed snake genus, so it doesnt matter what snake bit the patient.
Read that again- one injection for all snakes!
Polyvalent is our one shot wonder, stocked in all hospitals, so most hospitals no longer stock specific Antivenins.
Australian snakes tend to have 3 main effects in differing degrees.
Bleeding - internally and bruising.
Muscles paralysed causing difficulty talking, moving & breathing.
Pain
In some snakes severe muscle pain in the limb, and days later the bite site can break down forming a nasty wound.
Allergy to snakes is rarer than winning lotto twice.
Final tips: not all bitten people are envenomated and only those starting to show symptoms above are given antivenom.
Did I mention to stay still.
~Rob Timmings
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Can cut of circulation.use .compression bandage start at bite go up limb then back down again.to bite ...Will help slow venom :Y:Patrick1 said:
Because if/when a torniquet is released a localised dose of venom can also be released quickly. It can be fatal & so can taking off a pressure immobilisation bandage too quickly. Never remove them until with proper medical people I.e. let them take it off at the hospital. If you need to re-bandage for any reason just go over the old one.
Torniquets can also cause other issues due to no blood flow, nerve damage etc. Really a last resort for anything really.
Torniquets can also cause other issues due to no blood flow, nerve damage etc. Really a last resort for anything really.
Plus also the sudden rush when released can kill you.
That is if they have not been used properly.
I have been trained on how to use them but I have only
used them where a limb has been badly damaged.
also used them to retain bandages and padding.
.
I do draw the line on a good death adder bite though.
anything up 15 mm long fangs.
I do not want to discuss that in here though.
That is if they have not been used properly.
I have been trained on how to use them but I have only
used them where a limb has been badly damaged.
also used them to retain bandages and padding.
.
I do draw the line on a good death adder bite though.
anything up 15 mm long fangs.
I do not want to discuss that in here though.
Another reason they aren't recommended. If you don't use them properly you can cause extra permanent damage to the affected/injured limb. Last resort for most where all else fails.Tathradj said:
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RM posted this back on November 7th.
https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=28454
https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=28454
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MegsyB007 said:
Can't be said enough MegsyB007 :Y: the additional post's are equally as important :Y:.
Very informative post. Great to get a technical explanation. Great post. :Y:
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Soooooo, you dont just grab them and bite them back hey? 
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I was on another, international forum, and the same topic was being discussed there.
An " ugly, don't tell me snakes, I know snakes, I'm an Aussie" was schooling "how stupid are you yanks!" About how to treat snake bites.
The advice given here is absolutely spot on, and the number one way to treat elapid snake bite.
Elapids, are fixed front fanged snakes, like all of our dangerous species here in Australia.
Cobras and coral snakes are also elapids.
However.....vipers are a totally different story. And the pressure immobilization method is NOT the way to go.
Vipers such as rattle snakes have much bigger fangs and usually a totally different venom.
Their venom causes massive swelling, and a pressure bandage will cause more damage than help.
Only posted this here in the hope that one of us dosnt start lecturering Americans about snake bite treatment.
An " ugly, don't tell me snakes, I know snakes, I'm an Aussie" was schooling "how stupid are you yanks!" About how to treat snake bites.
The advice given here is absolutely spot on, and the number one way to treat elapid snake bite.
Elapids, are fixed front fanged snakes, like all of our dangerous species here in Australia.
Cobras and coral snakes are also elapids.
However.....vipers are a totally different story. And the pressure immobilization method is NOT the way to go.
Vipers such as rattle snakes have much bigger fangs and usually a totally different venom.
Their venom causes massive swelling, and a pressure bandage will cause more damage than help.
Only posted this here in the hope that one of us dosnt start lecturering Americans about snake bite treatment.
1 of my daughters has just had 3 Western Browns in her yard in a week. (lives inland WA)
So im off to her place this weekend to help snake-proof her houseyard, & do a bit of snake safety with my grandkids
So im off to her place this weekend to help snake-proof her houseyard, & do a bit of snake safety with my grandkids
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As it's been said already, THANKYOU very much Gravity for posting this detailed article. We all need to know exactly what to do if bitten...good that you emphasized not moving the bitten limb.
While what too do if bitten is very helpful and potentially life saving, prevention is better than a cure...everyone do your brain a favour and get a bit more peace of mind by getting yourselves some Snake Gaiters!
IF you get a decent pair of 'Snake Gaiters' not just 'Gaiters' and ware them properly combined with decent boots you stand a much better chance of dodging a trip to the hospital.
I have been doing a good deal of research on Snake Gaiters and this is some findings:
Snake Protex is an Australian brand, manufactured in NZ tested on Aussie Snakes, or Snake Guardz is American company with Gaiters having been seriously testing(Check out the youtube video!) on Rattlers.
While what too do if bitten is very helpful and potentially life saving, prevention is better than a cure...everyone do your brain a favour and get a bit more peace of mind by getting yourselves some Snake Gaiters!
IF you get a decent pair of 'Snake Gaiters' not just 'Gaiters' and ware them properly combined with decent boots you stand a much better chance of dodging a trip to the hospital.
I have been doing a good deal of research on Snake Gaiters and this is some findings:
Snake Protex is an Australian brand, manufactured in NZ tested on Aussie Snakes, or Snake Guardz is American company with Gaiters having been seriously testing(Check out the youtube video!) on Rattlers.
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