This is a product now endorsed by rescue and medical personnel for snakebite , old crepe bandages are sometimes ineffective , if you read the article in full you will see these new bandages have a pressure indicator in the fabric which tells you if they are too loose or too tight.
and by the way , these guys also recommend not trying to walk out after a snakebite , just hit your EPIRB , bandage the leg / arm tightly and sit down in a cool place to slow down your metabolism.
see full article and supplier names http://bsar.org/setopress
Setopress bandages for snakebite and sprains
As Australian snake venom is carried in the lymphatic system the first aid treatment is to use a pressure bandage to wrap the bitten limb from fingers to armpit or toes to groin. Imobilise the limb, and transport the patient to care. Do not allow them to walk out.
Many of us carry a crepe bandage, or even better, an elastic Ace bandage to do this. However on the Training Weekend, many members were a little surprised when they attempted to use these to apply first aid. The crepe bandages were essentially useless. Even with two of the heavier elastic bandages, it was impossible to wrap higher than just above the knee.
The bandage sometimes started to slip off straight away, and if it stayed up there was no way to tell if it was firm enough or too tight. (Blue toes or decreased venous return indicate that it is too tight, but it is then necessary to unwrap the bandage and start again, allowing a surge of venom into the body.)
A bandage that is designed to regulate venous drainage was much more effective. The Setopress Bandage which was demonstrated has a number of advantages. Primarily it is wider (10cm) and longer (3.5M) than most crepe or elastic bandages. This will allow a single bandage to reach the knee or armpit, and two to reach the groin.
To regulate the tightness (and therefore effective pressure) the bandage has a continuous series of green and brown rectangles printed along it's length. As the bandage is stretched, the green rectangles become squares. Increase the tension, and the brown rectangles become squares. At this tension lymphatic return is minimised, controlling flow of venom to the body.
The brown indicators are the ones you should use for treating a snakebite. When the brown indicators become squares (the maximum pressure) lymphatic return should be minimised reducing the circulation of any venom. The squares are also offset slightly so if you cover the squares with each wrap of the bandage you should get the right amount of overlap.
and by the way , these guys also recommend not trying to walk out after a snakebite , just hit your EPIRB , bandage the leg / arm tightly and sit down in a cool place to slow down your metabolism.
see full article and supplier names http://bsar.org/setopress
Setopress bandages for snakebite and sprains
As Australian snake venom is carried in the lymphatic system the first aid treatment is to use a pressure bandage to wrap the bitten limb from fingers to armpit or toes to groin. Imobilise the limb, and transport the patient to care. Do not allow them to walk out.
Many of us carry a crepe bandage, or even better, an elastic Ace bandage to do this. However on the Training Weekend, many members were a little surprised when they attempted to use these to apply first aid. The crepe bandages were essentially useless. Even with two of the heavier elastic bandages, it was impossible to wrap higher than just above the knee.
The bandage sometimes started to slip off straight away, and if it stayed up there was no way to tell if it was firm enough or too tight. (Blue toes or decreased venous return indicate that it is too tight, but it is then necessary to unwrap the bandage and start again, allowing a surge of venom into the body.)
A bandage that is designed to regulate venous drainage was much more effective. The Setopress Bandage which was demonstrated has a number of advantages. Primarily it is wider (10cm) and longer (3.5M) than most crepe or elastic bandages. This will allow a single bandage to reach the knee or armpit, and two to reach the groin.
To regulate the tightness (and therefore effective pressure) the bandage has a continuous series of green and brown rectangles printed along it's length. As the bandage is stretched, the green rectangles become squares. Increase the tension, and the brown rectangles become squares. At this tension lymphatic return is minimised, controlling flow of venom to the body.
The brown indicators are the ones you should use for treating a snakebite. When the brown indicators become squares (the maximum pressure) lymphatic return should be minimised reducing the circulation of any venom. The squares are also offset slightly so if you cover the squares with each wrap of the bandage you should get the right amount of overlap.