22/10/2025
Great read, good info for Australians. Summer in Australia and with that the snakes
3000 bites are reported annually.
300-500 hospitalisations
Average 2 deaths in Australia annually.
Average time for symptoms to show is 12 hours but each case is different
There are lots of myths and wivestales surrounding the snake so do some research , ask questions from experts and use common sense in the bush or in the garden during the warmer months
The management of snake bite (like a flood/fire evacuation plan or CPR) should be refreshed each season.
So basically there are four Victorian snakes that can harm us
Browns, Tigersnakes, Black snakes and Copperheads
All snake venom is made up of huge proteins (like egg white). When bitten, a snake injects some venom into the meat of your limb
This venom generally can not be absorbed into the blood stream from the bite site.
It travels in a fluid transport system in your body called the lymphatic system (not the blood stream).
Now this fluid (lymph) is moved differently to blood.
Your heart pumps blood around, so even when you are lying dead still, your blood still circulates around the body. Lymph fluid is different. It moves around with physical muscle movement like bending your arm, bending knees, wriggling fingers and toes, walking/exercise etc.
Now here is the thing. Lymph fluid becomes blood after these lymph vessels converge to form one of two large vessels (lymphatic trunks)which are connected to veins at the base of the neck.
Back to the snake bite site.
When bitten, the venom has been injected into this lymph fluid (which makes up the bulk of the water in your tissues).
The only way that the venom can get into your blood stream is to be moved from the bite site in the lymphatic vessels. The only way to do this is to physically move the limbs that were bitten.
So try to stay still, don’t panic, the venom can’t move if the victim doesn’t move.
Stay still ok
In the 1970s a technique called Pressure immobilisation bandaging was developed to further re**rd venom movement. It completely stops venom /lymph transport toward the blood stream.
A firm roll bandage is applied directly over the bite site (don’t wash the area).
The bandage combined with staying still will save your life
Technique:
Three steps: keep them still
Step 1
Apply a bandage over the bite site, to an area about 10cm above and below the bite.
Step 2:
Then using another elastic roller bandage, apply a firm wrap from Fingers/toes all the way to the armpit/groin.
The bandage needs to be firm, but not so tight that it causes fingers or toes to turn purple or white. About the tension of a sprain bandage.
MARK THE BITE SITE ON THE BANDAGE WITH A PEN OR TEXTA OR WHATEVER IS HANDY
Step 3:
Splint the limb so the patient can’t walk or bend the limb.
DO NOT..
Do not wash the bite site
Do not cut, incise or suck the venom.
Do not EVER use a tourniquet
Don’t remove the shirt or pants - just bandage over the top of clothing.
Remember movement (like wriggling out of a shirt or pants) causes venom movement.
DO NOT try to catch, kill or identify the snake!!! This is important.
In hospital we NO LONGER NEED to know the type of snake; it doesn’t change treatment.
The hospital will do a test on the bite, blood or urine to identify the snake so the correct anti venom can be used.
Australian snakes tend to have 3 main effects in differing degrees.
Bleeding - internally and bruising.
Muscles paralysed causing difficulty talking, moving & breathing.
Pain
In some snakes severe muscle pain in the limb, and days later the bite site can break down forming a nasty wound.
Final tips: not all bitten people are envenomated and only those starting to show symptoms above are given antivenom.
STAY STILL, WAIT FOR HELP TO COME TO YOU
PETS
If your pet is bitten, try to keep the animal still and calm, get to the vet.
Things like Vitamin c for snakebite and cutting ears are wives tales and do not work
Many dog trainers now offer training for dogs called snake aversion or snake avoidance.
If your dog does not interact with a snake, it wont be bitten, it’s that simple.
No Victorian snake has ever attacked a dog.
They want nothing to do with dogs or humans and will always try
to avoid a confrontation if they can.
