Australia is a nation filled with places that can leave you in awe because it is full of life and nature. However, like with all places filled with nature, there are untamed animals that can be hazardous when encountered in the wild.
One of the most dangerous animals you can encounter in Australia are snakes. Every year 3000 people suffer from snake bites in Australia. Though not all snake bites are lethal and venomous, it is still highly recommended to learn about snake bite treatments from professionals like Australia Wide First Aid so that you would know what to do if you or someone you know gets bitten by a snake. Read on below to find out how to perform snake bite first aid.
What To Do When You Get A Snake Bite?
If you or someone you know got bitten by a snake, there are only two things you can do.
- If you know that you are bitten by a venomous snake, your best option would be to immediately contact your local emergency number. Certain venomous snake bites can have lethal effects that can affect your body within minutes. So it’s important to get immediate medical help from professionals right away. Local emergency responders usually have anti-venoms at hand. So they’re truly your best option for fast treatment.
- If you can’t identify the type of snake that bit you, you must still contact your local emergency number or get to the nearest medical center as soon as possible. For the meantime, while you wait for help, you should make sure to:
- Get out of the striking distance of the snake
- Let the bitten person rest lying down
- Keep the wound below the heart.
- Cover the wound with a sterile bandage.
- Remove pieces of clothing or jewelry from the area that was bitten
- Keep the bitten person calm and still. Doing this can help prevent the venom from spreading throughout other parts of the body.
How To Identify A Snake Bite
Aside from knowing what to do when you or someone you know gets bitten by a snake, another thing you should learn about snake bites is how to identify them. Here are the two types of snake bites you should know about:
1. Dry Bites
Contrary to popular belief, not every snake bite comes with venom. Dry bites for one are snake bites where the snake strikes and penetrates your skin, but it doesn’t release any venom. A dry bite will feel painful, get red, and swollen.
The problem is, it can be very hard to identify dry bites. This is why it is always safer to assume that you were bitten by a snake with venom. On another note, if your snake bite has been assessed by a medical professional and it has been identified as non-venomous, you will not need any anti-venom treatment.
2. Venomous Bites
If a dry bite is the non-lethal type of snake bite, a venomous bite is the more hazardous and possibly lethal type of bite. When a snake gives you a venomous bite, you can experience and observe the following symptoms:
- Severe pain in the bitten area
- Swelling around the bite
- Bleeding around the bite
- Tingling, burning, or stinging in the skin
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Difficulty breathing
- Irregular heartbeat
- Weak muscles
- Paralysis
- Stomach pain
- Bloody gums
- Problem swallowing
- Dizziness
- Coma
- Bruising around the bitten area
Things You Shouldn’t Do With A Snake Bite
Now that you are well aware of the things you should do when you or someone you know gets bitten by a snake, you should also familiarize yourself with the different mistakes people often make when it comes to snake bites.
If you find yourself or someone else suffering from a snake bite, do not attempt to do the following:
- Cut the bite wound
- Suck out the venom out of the wound
- Tie a tourniquet to the wound
- Apply water to the wound
- Apply ice to the bite
- Drink alcoholic beverages
- Drink caffeinated beverages
- Take any form of medication
