Snakes and Snakebites
By James Anthony
 As
the warmer weather increases Australians tend to spend more
time in the outdoors.
Unfortunately as the heat of summer rises, so does the incidence
of humans coming across certain legless creatures that can
give one hell of a nasty shock to unsuspecting individuals.
Snakes, like many reptiles, are cold-blooded animals, so
in the summer months they tend to be more active as their
warmer blood means they don't have to sleep as much.
Each year there are around 3000 people bitten by snakes and
while almost all are successfully treated there are one to
two deaths a year.
Living on the edge of major cities is a wonderful lifestyle
- having both clean air, a quiet environment and yet being
within easy reach of cosmopolitan luxuries - however, the
meeting of country and city is not always a happy one...
Take the other day when my young girl decided to go for a
bike ride to see some friends. Off she went down the dirt
road with a smile on her face and singing with happiness.
Within a minute she was back home, white-faced, shaking and
in desperate need of a hug. She'd almost ridden over a largish
snake that had just decided to cross the road without looking
right-left-right.
There was no point in asking what sort it was - copperhead,
tiger, or brown snake - and it doesn't really matter because
all of the species are deadly.
Interestingly, many people don't always know if they've even
been munched by a snake. Some victims describe it as a bump,
with no sudden pain. If you are in snake country and feel
unwell then check yourself for scratches and puncture marks.
There could also be bruising, bleeding or swelling around
the wound.
So, how do you look after a person who has been bitten by
a snake?
Well, forget all the suck-the-poison-out rubbish from Hollywood
westerns - because our snakes are different to the US sliders.
For one, US snakes have bigger fangs - meaning the poison
goes in further - while with good old Australian slitherers'
bites send poison spreading closer to the surface of the skin
through the lymphatic system.
Here are the summer snake safety tips:
How to Deal With Snake Bites
- Do not wash the wound - the venom needs to be analysed
so leave it as is.
- Place a folded pad over the wound.
- Immobilise the limb with a firm bandage - about the same
as for a sprained ankle.
- Do not cut off blood supply - the tourniquet approach
is wrong.
- Put a splint on the limb.
- If bite occurs on a victim's torso - apply pressure bandage
as well.
- The same goes for head, neck and back wounds.
- Call an ambulance 000.
How to Reduce the Risk
- Avoid walking through long grass.
- If you intend to do the above wear long pants and rugged
boots.
- Be careful when gardening (wear gloves), or clearing wood
piles - they are great places for snakes to sleep.
- Stay on paths.
- Watch where you step.
- Be alert to low-lying creates.
- Leave snakes alone - they may see you as a threat. Many
bites occur when people try to kill snakes.
|
