How to treat a snake bite | St John WA | First Aid Facts

Snake bites are not common in Australia, but all should be treated as life-threatening. Snakes force venom out under pressure through fangs in the upper jaw. The spread of snake venom depends on its absorption through the lymphatic system.
What to do:
1. Follow DRSABCD St John Action Plan.
2. Urgent medical aid. Call Triple Zero (000) for an ambulance.
3. Ensure the casualty does not move.
4. Lay the casualty down, rest and reassure.
5. If the bite is on a limb, apply a broad pressure bandage over the bite site as soon as possible.
6. Then apply a further elasticised or firm bandage - start at fingers or toes and move up the limb as far as can be reached. Apply tightly but without stopping blood flow.
7. Splint the limb including the joints on either side of the bite.
8. Write down the time that the casualty was bitten and when the bandage was applied.
9. If the casualty becomes unconscious and not breathing normally, Commence CPR and Defibrillation.
View the full guide: stjohnwa.com.au/online-resour...

[@sanjaybanerjee2932]

In case of Snake Bite time is very crucial. Don't waste time to find out is it venomous or non venomous bite. Continously REASSURE the victim, IMMOBILISE the bitten part with a wider bandage instead of ligatures. GO TO NEAREST HEALTH CENTRE , Don't walk, arrange a vehicle for transportation of the victim. TELL THE DOCTOR REGARDING THE BITE . 20 minutes WBCT TEST may help a lot if victim arrives HEALTH Centre within a short period after bite.

[@danieldahdah7431]

Very well done, thank you

[@boxybox100]

great vid, thank you

[@flikjones1178]

Blade is the best trainer I've met. Great video 🙂

[@lukehealth6394]

To me your bandaging is not correct. Venom spreads towards the heart so it is of no use of bandaging below the bite site, rather it is more harmful.

[@ronweewan3687]

thanks..

[@foff73]

Next do a video about whý this technique works best. People who see that will remember much better what to do.

[@herby375]

Why don't you start bandaging higher up the bite site coming down past the bite site to stop the venom that's already traveled up?

[@garrysarre8744]

Blood travels down as well.

[@Jolarfrank]

Nice video

[@edelynquedz7224]

The end looking like some sacrifices 😂

[@bjornegan6421]

Although the intent of this video is for a particular audience, the reach of the video is obviously worldwide. It is negligent to not include information as to what type of snake bites the treatment is and is not for.

[@banksiasong]

Australian snakes, for bites in Western Australia. It was mentioned at the beginning of the video. But yes, everyone could seek out LOCAL advice from their medical or first aid provider. In the US for example, one highly regarded institution advises to wash the area with soap and water, which is handy and very cheap. Stay well, and avoid snakes if you can.

[@trickyjw]

Good video

[@reubcom4040]

I find this video a bit incomplete and odd. 1. if you can take a photo of the snake or have someone identify it that should be done the one and a half minutes it takes to do this potentially saves about 15-20 minutes at the hospital to find the correct antivenom. 2. Useing a (whole) bandage just on the bite site is a waste of time and resources it also makes it difficult for doctors to swab the bite for testing but each to their own i guess. 3. I wouldn't recommend splinting to another leg for a bite, some snake bites cause cramps and spasms wich means if one leg is freaking out both legs are now moving wich is undesirable, independent splinting for snake bites. 4. Always go as far up as you can with the bandage don't waste a whole bandage just covering the bite use it to get the rest of the way. Any way don't die out there people, have a plan and know what to do.

[@karnvool666]

I would tend to agree with those points. Especially the bandage around the bite site. Still better than nothing though, I guess.

[@jeanniemaycrawford4466]

First step is to bite the snake back

[@altoncherrington5626]

😂😂😂😂

[@mikerobo2112]

Great in theory.

[@LightKingDGH]

😂😂😂

[@deboramanika4075]

😅😅 How?

[@gothducks]

Is your kit available on Amazon? When I search Amazon for snake bit kit, all of them are about extractors which I understand is the wrong thing to do. I assume I can just purchase a few compression bandages...

[@banksiasong]

Snake bite first aid is different for different countries. Check out your local first aid or medical advice centre, and they may be able to direct you to an appropriate retailer.

[@ismailmustafa4553]

Many thanks dear for educating us on this horrible incident other wise would like to ask whether cleaning first where the bite has taken place is recommended ?

[@Bigredkarl]

I saw a vid the man said not to clean the wound as dr will swab the site to verify venom type

[@andyirons7162]

they recommend to never clean the area

[@themysticalcolby]

@@andyirons7162 Who recommends that? Do a search and you’ll see several medical institutions instructing you to wash the snake bite.

[@banksiasong]

Get local advice applicable to where you live, and where you are travelling. Most snakes are more frightened of humans than we are of them, so make lots of noise when walking through brush.

[@sophiesolo3435]

If the patient is vomiting and you need to put them into recovery position, should the bitten arm or leg be on the top or bottom?

[@englishkurdishsubtitle4831]

I think it should be on bottom

[@angtaongbahay]

Very informative,but like us who lived in the mountains,the survival is crucial sad to say when it happened the victim died we dont have treatment facilities, that's why i have fear of snakes coz one of our neighbours died the kid was bite by king cobra while playing in their backyard he die while his inside the vehicle going to the hospital 1 hour away but sad thing even the hospital dont have the anti venom 😢😢

[@sparkymalarky4322]

I do alot of trail running. Often alone and not accessable to vehicles. If i get bit do i stay still, Bandage up and call for help or bandage up and go to the nearest road. ? I know you shouldnt move so its catch 22

[@banksiasong]

One of the exciting risks of adventuring solo.

[@itachigrain4651]

Hello I was a cadet years ago, if a person had a snake bite (venomous) and became unconscious, do you still give CPR? Asking because intuition tells me that the heart pumping might cause venom to travel throughout the body. Also, which one do you do first, compressions or snake bite treatment? Thank you!

[@michaelcapponi2]

if patient is breathing don't perform cpr. if patient is pulseless (or more simply if they're nonresponsive and not breathing), then it's time to do CPR. the supply of blood to the brain is most important thing for a patient we want to keep alive. venom is bad, but patient might survive envenomation. no patient survives being in cardiac arrest without effective CPR helping to oxygenate brain cells, and the eventual restarting of cardiac rythms.

[@itachigrain4651]

@@michaelcapponi2 Thank you very much!

[@nagnik4384]

What if medical aid takes far too long to reach??

[@peterbird7979]

@@nagnik4384 you keep doing CPR until you are too exhausted to continue

[@interestinginfo6765]

Ive always heard you keep the bite below the heart. If the bite victim is lying down that’s impossible.

[@sgiannenas3222]

Venom from snake bites aren't injected into the blood stream, but rather travel through the lymphatic system and are moved by the contraction of our muscles, and therefore unaffected by the heart. Most importantly, having the patient lie down in a relaxed position minimises any use of the muscles that will pump the lymphatic fluid containing the venom through the body, and extend the amount of time before the onset of symptoms.

[@kipropdavid1]

@@sgiannenas3222 perfect explanation

[@mcake1234]

You weren't listening were you.

[@rickobrien4025]

I would say that the majority of snake bites (in the US) are far from town or any hospital , and laying down is not an option . You've either got to walk out from the bite site , drive ,ride your bike , or whatever to get to help . In the mean time , your pulse is going to be elevated , stress will increase your breathing...

[@Rice_Boi.]

america has more hopsitals per square kilometer than australia, and almost everywhere other than a few big cities is a rural area, and this video is directed for australians, funny how these things work

[@richardhincemon]

@@Rice_Boi. Only a. 02 percent chance of dying from snake bite in the United States with medical treatment.

[@banksiasong]

Hopefully the bite victim is not alone and this can be done by their companion. I understand that US snake venom acts differently, and the first aid may also be different. Enjoy your beautiful country, and stay well.

[@Alex-zs4vb2lt5c]

A lot of bites in Australia are actually in backyards, snakes are just that common and I know a couple of people really well who have been bitten gardening. In my suburb in a major city I will see snakes multiple times just while walking the dog or going for a run around local parks in walking distance from my house every Summer. I actually see a lot of snakes because I enjoy remote camping and I also enjoy fishing near rivers and like any other animal they have to drink and they quite like eating frogs and other prey. I see quite a few swimming on the water and I'm quite happy to see those since they aren't bothered by me. The problem with fishing is that we tend to stalk along the bank and spend a lot of time not moving and that is when we see the most snakes. Having said that, I never go to a remote area (don't actually have to go far to be out of mobile range) without myself or one of my companions carrying a PLB (or EPIRB). If I have companions then they could be day's walk from the trailhead and quite possibly won't have reception there unless they drive further on. Quite seriously, if you try and walk out and it wasn't a dry bite then you will likely die. As @banksiasong said, some or many US snakes are likely different, and this compression technique which is intended to reduce movement of venom through the lymphatic system may not actually be effective for bites from these so I would strongly recommend that you look for localised advice. Sadly I even knew someone who died from a tiger snake bite when they either entered or exited their car at Charlotte Pass in the Snowy Mountains and he was a geologist who had lived around snakes and the outdoors his entire life. The story was that there was a shortage of antivenin where they took him to. So even being next a car, applying a compression bandage and seeking help immediately as part of a group was not enough. I'm trying to remember if mobile phones were common at that time but from memory someone in the group did have one (I was not actually there and it was a long time ago). So in the same way that I'm asking that you seek local advice for your area I would say be careful of unwittingly sharing information that might be taken by someone as advice that is relevant in their own area because that could have deadly consequences. There was actually a case near Brisbane more recently where a farmer's young son died because the father thought it was a dry bite and the father was charged with manslaughter so it pays not to be too blase. The boy went to bed early that evening after the other kids reported the bite and never woke up. The father's story was that there was no bite mark -- I don't know if he knew that a deadly bite can actually just look like a scratch but they certainly found it in the autopsy. So in that case the boy had been lying down because he wasn't feeling well, but without a compression bandage he may not have survived long. It shows that even those at highest risk, living on a property, can be dangerously ignorant of how to mitigate the risks of living in their local area

[@ThumpertTheFascistCottontail]

if you're in the u.s.a, i suppose you could call an ambulance but the bill might be more dangerous than the snake bite.

[@Juno_Beach]

its only a matter of time before south Florida is crawling with Mojave's, Browns & Tigers

[@banksiasong]

Your Orange Mussolini is the most dangerous viper in Florida, and he's been allowed to pretty much to destroy America. Maybe deal with him first.

[@ginavanbeck8134]

Question why wouldn’t you wrap from top of leg to foot to stop poison flow? Thx

[@chrispalmer9952]

If no bandage is available?

[@banksiasong]

Tear up a piece of clothing. She demonstrated this with a t-shirt.

[@chrispalmer9952]

@banksiasong Nah... I wear expensive tshirts.... they won't make it then..

[@s_jashu7616]

@@chrispalmer9952what if your brother or mum got bit

[@----.__]

@@chrispalmer9952 If your friends aren't worth $200 then you need to find better friends!

[@Fredhelreacts]

It’s a bit why so much bandage

[@Fredhelreacts]

🤦‍♂️ to restrict the flow of venom bite?

[@keep1hunnid]

wait the venom travels differently through the body if you are not in Australia?

[@Wowzur]

What if you are Australian but in another country?

[@phoenixirwin8730]

No it’s only because of the type of snakes in Australia.

[@Sylvanas17]

@@Wowzur Lmao

[@themysticalcolby]

Other sources tell me to take them to the hospital straight away because the only place they can really have the venom treated, not waiting for them to come to you just to end up waiting more time as you are then taken to the hospital.

[@margaretbouma4496]

If you manage to arrive at a hospital alive, without having done some compression bandaging, the ED team will be asking why no first aid was attended 😮

[@maduraikalatta5698]

Its only bandages wraps not snake bites treatment madam

[@andyirons7162]

what are you one about?

[@banksiasong]

It is FIRST AID, not primary medical or ICU treatment in a tertiary hospital, 'sir'. Good grief.

[@arifanwer2569]

This snake bite method is a big JOKE?! This woman is trying to fool every one.

[@nompumelelonkosi4748]

P P

[@rocketape2602]

I appreciate the video but she’s not explaining exactly why she wrapped the full leg or even tied it to the other leg 😂 I’m sure anyone watching this would eventually need to know the reason behind doing it.

[@sgiannenas3222]

For treatment of bites from elapid snakes, which includes all of Australia's venomous snakes, the pressure immobilisation technique (wrapping the leg) is used to limit the flow of the lymphatic system. Contrary to what is commonly assumed, the snake's venom is not injected into the blood stream, but instead circulated through the body by lymphatic vessels that are found beneath the skin and inside muscle. This structure of vessels form the lymphatic system, and is responsible for maintaining the body's fluid levels, aiding the immune system, and removing various waste product. Unlike our blood, which is pumped around the body using out heart, this lymphatic fluid moves throughout the body using the contraction of our muscles when we are in motion. Without active use of our muscles, the lymphatic system cannot flow. By putting pressure on the entire length of the limb, we significantly reduce the amount of venom that can freely move through the lymphatic system by squeezing those lymphatic vessels using the bandage. This is followed by tying the legs together or attaching the limb to a splint, which provides support to the limb and prevents movement of the muscles that pump the venom through the body. By having the patient lie down, they prevent all active use of those muscles and can greatly extend the amount of time before symptoms are even begun to be felt. NOTE: For anywhere outside of Australia that also has vipers as well as elapids, venom from a viper attacks the body differently, and should not be treated using the pressure immobilisation technique.

[@mcake1234]

She talked about the lymphatic system and the need to immobilise it with compression bandages. Listen next time.

[@Bergo101]

@@sgiannenas3222what is the reason for starting at the end of the limb and then going up rather than the other way around? It’s good that I know now, my first instinct would have been to start at the top to close of circulation to the rest of the body, then work my way down. One more question; is tying the limbs together mostly just to help avoid movement as much as possible? Thanks!

[@banksiasong]

Do we need to understand the chemistry and physics of an internal combustion engine in order to drive a car? This is a short first aid video for people in Western Australia who want something quick, not a ten-episode drama covering anatomy, physiology, bio-toxicity, haematology, antivenins, bio-statistics, fluid dynamics, or Emergency medicine.

[@Lou4Equity]

This is not a real situation, things are different in actual snake bite

[@Chiko-sc1gz]

how are things different

[@andyirons7162]

Educate us champion

[@Lou4Equity]

@@andyirons7162 don’t take me wrong but in many countries the first Aid kit will not be available & would not get an ambulance on call , this video is relevant if u have all the resources at hand which is not the case every time ….. poor countries have numerous mortality rates every year due to snake bite

[@Rice_Boi.]

@@Lou4Equityyou see how its directed for the state of Western Australia, which is not in a poor country, and most people have snake first aid kits because we have the deadliest snakes in the world, and alot of australia has phone coverage, satelite sos, or something like starlink (search it up if u dont know) which is why it dosent cater for third world countries, funny about that

[@banksiasong]

Indeed it is very tragic about the lack of medical facilities in poor countries. Even in Western Australia, there are isolated areas hundreds of kilometres from medical care, and snake bite victims can die. Stay well, and maybe look for cheaper options for intervention in your area, such as ripping the t-shirt as was shown here. Stay well and as safe as you can 🌻

[@Daruma_Studio]

Snake bites must be rare, but obviously mosquito bites arent. Poor girl got yellow fever filming this haha

[@Malc664]

More like Ross River in Perth

[@cheryl423]

firecherylb23