How deadly is a Snake Bite?
Depending on how much is injected into the human body, it can take as quickly as 10 minutes to a few hours but the average time to kill a human being in a single snake bite can take around 30-60 minutes.
Snake season usually starts in October and November where they come out in Australia. Sometimes they are found around the house, under a rock or anything that covers them from the summer heat. They can also be found in bedrooms, cars, gutters, trees etc.
DO’s and DON’Ts when bitten by a Snake:
DO
- Call for medical help immediately
- Clean wound and apply pressure bandage to bitten limb
- Restrict movement
- Transport the person quickly to the nearest hospital that can deliver emergency care for a snake bite
DON’TS
- DO NOT suck out the venom
- DO NOT apply tourniquet that can impede blood circulation
- DO NOT elevate the sound above the heart of chest level
- DO NOT take aspirin, pain relievers or traditional remedies
What are the symptoms of a Snake Bite?
- Disturbed vision
- Increased salivation and sweating
- Severe pain and tenderness at the site of the bite
- Numbness or tingling around the face or limbs
- Bite marks on your skin
- Abnormal blood clotting and bleeding
- Low blood pressure
- Redness, swelling and tissue damage or complete destruction in the area of the bite
First aid for Snake Bite
- Call 000 right away
- Let the emergency operator know what kind of snake that caused the bite
- Check the person if the person is conscious and breathing. If unconscious and not breathing, begin CPR
- Keep the person as still as possible and prevent from moving too much
- Place the bite site lower of the person’s heart to slow down the spread of venom
Please note that regular First Aid and CPR Training is the best way to make sure that you’re prepare in the case of an emergency. Book a course with us!
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