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The Life Saving Tips You Need To Survive A Snake Bite This Summer

With the weather heating up the snakes are coming out, so here are some tips from the Royal Flying Doctor Service on some common misconceptions, as well as some life saving tips to how to survive a snake bite.

Australia has 60 species of snakes and 10 of them are the most lethal in the world! We bet you didn’t know Adelaide alone has the nation’s highest population of brown snakes. With summer approaching be on the look out!

The Royal Flying Doctor service is reminding us to watch out for snakes following a number of snakebite incidents across the country. Snake bites can often go unnoticed but, the symptoms can be a lot more serious like unexplained collapse, vomiting and abdominal pain, bleeding or paralysis.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service would like to clear up any dangerous myths and misconceptions that film and television have wrongly portrayed about how to deal with a snakebite. Below are the do’s and don’ts when it comes to dealing with snakebites.

What you SHOULD NOT do:

Do NOT wash the area of the bite or try to suck out the venom. It is extremely important to retain traces of venom for use with venom identification kits.

Do NOT incise or cut the bite, or apply a high tourniquet. Cutting or incising the bite won’t help. High tourniquets are ineffective and can be fatal if released.

Do NOT allow the victim to walk or move their limbs. Use a splint or sling to minimise all limb movement. Put the patient on a stretcher or bring transportation to the patient.

What you SHOULD do:

Try to note the colour, size, distinctive markings and patterns of the snake without putting yourself at risk. A positive identification will help medics get the correct anti-venom into the patient more quickly.

Stop the spread of venom – bandage firmly, splint and immobilise. All the major medical associations recommend slowing the spread of venom by placing a folded pad over the bite area and then applying a firm bandage. It should not stop blood flow to the limb or congest the veins. Only remove the bandage in a medical facility, as the release of pressure will cause a rapid flow of venom through the bloodstream.

Seek medical help immediately as the venom can cause severe damage to health or even death within a few hours.

The advice by the RFDS follows a number of snakebite incidents across the country, requiring the attendance of RFDS emergency retrieval crews. It is a timely reminder for Adelaide residents following our wet winter which has resulted in thicker grasses and provided the ideal environment for snakes.

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