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Australian Venom Research Unit
First Aid Guidelines
First Aid for snake bite in Australia
1. Immediately apply a broad firm bandage around the limb and on the bitten area. It should be as tight as one would bind a sprained ankle. As much of the limb should be bandaged as possible. Bind from below upwards. Crepe bandages are ideal but any flexible material can be used, e.g. tear up clothing or old towels into strips. Panty hose is satisfactory.
2. Keep the limb and the victim as still as possible. Bind some type of splint to the limb- e.g. piece of timber, spade, any rigid object.
3. Bring transport to the victim if possible
4. Leave the bandage and splint on until medical care is reached.
Don't cut or excise the bitten area.
Don't apply an arterial tourniquet
Don't was the bitten area. The snake involved may be identified by the detection of venom on the skin. If the snake can be safely killed, bring it to the hospital with the victim.
Additional notes on first aid for snake bite
First aid against other Australian creatures which may cause death:
The pressure immobilisation procedure is now recommended
for use in the majority of other bites and stings with several exceptions
discussed below.
Arterial tourniquets are no longer recommended for any type of bite or
sting
LAND CREATURES
Spiders
Funnel-web spiders (approximately
forty species now identified)
The pressure immobilisation procedure should be
commenced immediately and left in position until the patient is in the hospital.
Experimental evidence suggests that this venom may lose its activity if
kept in the bitten limb. Antivenom is available.
Redback spider
No first aid is recommended for these bites other than the local application
of iced water. The venom works very slowly and if its movement is restricted,
local pain may become severe. Some 300 cases receive antivenom a year and
no deaths have occurred since this treatment became available.
Other types of spiders
A variety of common house and garden spiders frequently deliver bites but
usually very little occurs other than a little local swelling. Bites are
best lightly washed with water and iced water may give relief from mild
pain or itching. Medical advice should be sought if local changes are causing
concern. Note: If bitten by a spider always try to capture and preserve
the culprit in spirit for identification purposes, even if has been squashed.
Bees, wasps and ants
May cause an anaphylactic death in allergic persons. In non allergic persons
iced water usually relieves the pain. In all cases bee stings should be
scraped off, not pulled off, as this may cause further injection of venom
from the venom gland which remains attached to the sting. In persons known
to be allergic, the pressure/immobilisation procedure should be used and
medical care sought immediately. Patients who have suffered severe reactions
should always have access to injectable adrenaline and know how to use it.
Purified venoms are available for use in immunotherapy to desensitise people
allergic to bees and wasps. The Australian Venom Research Unit is endeavouring
to prepare purified Jumper and and Bull ant venom for this purpose.
The Australian paralysis tick
The tick should be carefully removed as soon as possible. The tick should
be levered out using a pair of curved scissors. If the patient is already
ill the pressure/immobilisation procedure should be used if possible to
inhibit the movement of any toxic saliva which has been expressed during
the removal of the tick. Check carefully for other attached ticks! An
antitoxin is available to treat cases of paralysis.
MARINE CREATURES
Blue-ringed octopus and Cone snails
The pressure/immobilisation procedure is recommended. Prolonged artificial
respiration may be required following a bite or sting.
Box jellyfish or sea wasp
Pour domestic vinegar (never methylated spirit or alcohol) over the adhering
tentacles to inactivate them as soon possible. Artificial respiration and
cardiac massage may be required. An arterial tourniquet is not recommended
but in severe cases the pressure/immobilisation procedure should be applied
to the affected limb or limbs after the application of vinegar. An antivenom
is available.
Other types of Jellyfish
Although vinegar is suitable for other types of stings, those due to Physalia
'Blue bottle' (aka: Portuguese man 'o' war) are best washed with sea water
and then covered with iced water packs.
Stonefish and other stinging fish
Do not attempt to restrict the movement of the injected toxin. Most fish
stings respond to bathing in warm (not scalding) water. Pain relief from
severe stonefish stings may require a regional nerve block. All stonefish
stings require medical attention as do most deep stings caused by other
fish. Often foreign material and bacteria are deposited quite deeply. A
stonefish antivenom is available.
Publications relating to first-aid treatment and antivenom
For more information regarding first aid procedures, contact
Dr. Ken Winkel
at the Australian Venom Research Unit