What can we say, here in Australia we’re known for our dangerous wildlife, and top of that list is the humble snake. Ok, snakes aren’t exactly known for being humble, but did you know that even our deadliest snakes like the Eastern Brown snake or the Inland Taipan, aren’t actually aggressive and will only bite to defend themselves or their young.
There are around 3000 snake bites recorded in Australia every year and Summer is by far the snake’s favourite time to plant their fangs.
While it’s best to be overcautious about snake bites and treat for the worst-case scenario, the majority of bites are not poisonous.
The best first aid treatment for all Australian snake bites according to the Australian Resuscitation Council, which is our authority on first aid protocols, is to minimise the venom’s movement through the body using the Pressure Immobilisation Technique or PIT for short.
To apply the PIT, first be sure that the scene is clear of danger and follow these 5 steps:
Now the best you can do is wait patiently for the ambulance to arrive while encouraging the person to stay calm.
For a handy quick reference guide on the go for this and other first aid tips this summer, we recommend downloading the free app produced by the Australian Venom Research Unit called Australian Bites & Stings.