WATCH out, Joe Blakes about. That's the reminder from the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) about the dangers posed by snakes during the summer, a time when many Australians take to the great outdoors.
The warning from its South Eastern section follows a number of snakebite incidents across the country requiring the attendance of its emergency retrieval crews.
One of them involved Shane Rawlings, who had been bitten on the finger on a property at Tilpa, in north-western NSW.
James Rozorio, a flight nurse with the service who attended the emergency evacuation, said it was fortunate that Shane's mate had the foresight to apply a pressure bandage to the bite and call the Flying Doctor.
Even so, by the time James got to Broken Hill he was bleeding badly from his gums and had red blotches on his stomach and legs.
"The doctor was pretty honest," Shane said. "They were worried and were transferring me to Adelaide. He advised me to speak with those closest to me, in case I didn't pull through."
Shane spent nine days in intensive care but lived to tell the tale. "The pressure bandage slowed the spread of the venom long enough for the Flying Doctor to get to me. Without them I wouldn't have made it," he said.
James said that, surprisingly, snakebites are often painless and may go unnoticed as tissue damage is mostly light - lacerations, scratches or light bruising along with some bleeding or swelling. Symptoms may include an unexplained collapse, vomiting and abdominal pain, bleeding or paralysis."
Here are some of the service's most important do's and don'ts:
- 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.
- Don't 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.
- Don't 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.
- 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.
- Don't 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.
- Seek medical help immediately as the venom can cause severe damage to health or even death within a few hours.
Advice on how to respond to snake bites and other common first aid situations for people with no medical training can be found in the new Fast First Aid booklet from the RFDS.
It is especially invaluable for those who live on remote properties or in communities that may be some distance from medical help, but is not intended to replace calling 000 for medical aid in an emergency.
Fast First Aid is free and is available until mid-December in NSW and ACT only. To receive a copy, text "NOW" to 0428-044-444.
