Snakes - advice

[phil g]

I've picked my share of red bellys up and non have ever tryed to strike, and I beleive theres not much more then a head ache that follows if one does bite. The one I was laying besides was very relaxed, and yes we did stay there.

Just thought i'd let you know a bit about our little red bellied friend, for starters it will give you more than just a headache. it's venom is the least strongest out of all the snakes in the black snake family although it does have a few different properties within it. its venom is neurotoxic which can cause paralysis, it is also myotoxic & mildly coagulant. it affects muscle tissue & destroys the blood cells, chronic vomiting is most likely & u will have a headache but it won't be a small one. just for a comparison, it's venom is 22% as toxic as the indian cobra.

just so you are aware, full grown adults in australia have been killed by this species. it is usually a shy snake & same as all snakes it would rather try to move away from you before trying to attack unless it has been threatened or provoked. not trying to give a lecture to anyone but i thought i had better add my little piece in case someone who doesnt know alot about snakes took adams statement a bit lightly about only recieving a headache.

pat, i know about the snakes your talking bout in bundy, grew up in the cane fields in burnett heads & thats why i love my snakes.

cheers, phil.

[Poppy]

Hi Guy's great stories and experiences.
I've kept, caught and bread reptiles for over 20 years and had a good share of adventures with them.
But one thing that amazes me is the amount of hunters, bush walkers, etc that go into the bush without the basic first aid (pressure bandage) and knowledge of how to use it.
It's like going into the Simpson Desert without water :shock:
It's a common stat that about 3,000 Australians suffer from snake bite each year, and approx 2 to 6 die from their wounds.
Most snakes will move away when they feel ground vibrations from approaching people (all snakes are deaf no ears). But slow moving species like the death adder will remain in hiding on game trails that how they obtain their pray. (they move slow but are the fastest striking) But when you are stalking this is when you will get into trouble.
Snakes will only attack if they feel threatened.
They also have different personalities like people. I've picked up wild Red Bellies that are like the family cat, and other Red Bellies will chew your arm off :twisted:
I dare say most of you blokes know all this.
Cheers Paul

[Axe]

This may help those that don't know!

First aid for snake bites
If you are unlucky enough to be bitten, here is what you should and should not do. Assume ALL snakes are venomous, and take the following action:

1. Do not panic. Try to remain calm, lie down and immobilise the bitten area.
2. Apply a bandage but do not block circulation. Take a broad bandage and bind along the limb starting at the bite area, at the same pressure as for a sprain. Then bandage down the limb and continue back up the entire limb over and above the bite area. This will help prevent the spread of the venom through the body. Do not remove the bandage. It is often easier to go over the top of clothing such as jeans rather than remove clothing. In an emergency, strips of clothing or pantyhose can be used instead of a bandage.
3. Immobilise the limb with a splint. Lie down and keep the limb completely still until help arrives. Do not elevate the limb or attempt to walk or run. Movement will encourage the spread of the venom through the body. (Obviously if alone, isolated & no contact can be made to get help, walking may be the only alternative) To avoid this necessity, the carrying of an EPIRB is a positive step
4. Do not attempt to catch the snake. All too often, the snake will bite again if an attempt is made to catch it. Identification of the snake species can be obtained through samples of the patient's blood or urine, and from venom around the bite area. If the species of snake still remains uncertain, a poly-antivenene may be used, which is suitable for treatment of all venomous snake bites.
5. Do not wash the wound. Venom left on the skin will help doctors identify the snake and administer the appropriate antivenene.
6. Do not cut the wound. This will spread the venom into the bloodstream and can cause more serious injuries than the snake bite itself.
Seek medical help. An antivenene may be required

[TheGos]

Was at the Aust. Reptile Park the other weekend and had a chance to listen to some good info.

Just incase you wanted to know you have on average 12hours till death from a snakebite. So yeah...no need to panic. :D

[aussiehunter]

just a bit more info.similar to axes post,grabbed it from ozbow..

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 11:42 am Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thick socks? More like thick boots and loose fitting heavy denim, but socks help too.

I recently qualidied as an Army Combat Medic, so I had to learn all this stuff. Some of it may be suck-eggs to you, but there might be some out there who might benefit from this little dissertation, so:

It isn't the heart rate which pumps the venom, it's the circulation of lymph fluid, which is completely separate from blood. Lymph is circulated by movement of muscles, which is why you splint: to help reduce the movement of joints. The tight bandage also helps restrict the flow of non-pressurised fluid around the body, ie: blood.

Unless you're bending over to pick up an arrow or something you're probably unlikely to get bitten above 5-6 inches on your leg, I think is the measurement.

Knowing the signs and sypmtoms of a snake bite will help in calming you, even though you know that you're in big trouble.

Nausea: This will happen rather quickly if the bite is untreated, or improperly treated. It may develop as far as vomitting.

Confusion: This goes hand in hand with the nasuea thing.

Sweating: Many of the venoms have a severe diuretic in them, which makes your body get rid of water any way that it can. The victim may feel feverish or very cold.

Frequent urination: This is also a product of the diuretic.

Reduced blood pressure: this is a result of both the loss of fluid, and the venom acting in it's medium-late stages on the circulatory stages. This is where you should no longer be moving at all, and have two IV drips in your arm, at least. The patient will feel very dizzy, poor balance, confused, and etc.

The proper way to apply the dressing is with at least three bandages, but any will help.

1: Check the area for danger. Unless it is a particularly aggressive snake, it probably won't hang around, but be careful. The only thing worse than one person bit is two people bit.

2: If you have gloves, put them on. As much for your own benefit as their's. If there is any venom on the outside of the bite, try to absorb it somehow, then keep the absorber somewhere that the doctors/whoever can get to it. Jindydiver suggests taping it under the tail of the bandage to facilitate ease of analysis of the venom.

3: Asses the patient's level of consciousness. If you're there when it happens then this isn't as important. Try to get them to describe the snake. This is valuable information for the people with antivenom. Keep the pateint talking, and keep talking to them. This helps to delay any lapse of consciousness, and distracts the patient from their prdicament, somewhat.

4: Expose the wound. Cut off their trouser leg, or sleeve or whatever. Don't remove boots or shoes. If the laces are loose, tighten them.

5: Mark the bite with a pen. The punsture marks are generally quite small, and there's usually only one of them. Marking it now will help those who take the patient.

6: With the first bandage, start DIRECTLY OVER the bite mark, and work DOWN THE LIMB to the extremity. Overlap the bandages about 1/2 way on every turn to allow adequate coverage. When you get to the hand/boot top, work your way back up the limb.

7: Mark the bite site again over the bandage.

8: Start either whare the other bandage ended, or at the bite site, depending on how much bandage you have, and work up the limb. Ideally, you should go as far as the groin/armpit. Mark the bite site again if necessary.

9: if it is a leg, splint it to the other leg. If it's an arm, splint with a stick.

10: write down as much as you can. Important things which the ambos will thank you for are:

Time of bite
Description of snake
The exact treatment, incluiding timing of bandages
Location of bite
Any known allergies of patient
Last known food/drink consumed by patient
Name and personal details of patient

The bandage should be tight, but tight enough to still observe blood flow to the very extremeties. On the hand or bare foot, squeeze their finger/toe nail. The blood should flow back within two seconds. With a boot or shoe, lightly squeeze their foot. They should be able to feel light touch.

If you think it it too tight, NEVER take the bandage off to re-apply. If it's too tight: too bad.

Always try to have the limb lower than the heart and lungs. Lower than the rest of the body, in fact.

That's a quick guide to snake bite treatment, as far as my training is concerned. Actually, if I could, I'd have put some IV saline into you, but that's a bit beyond first aid and any first aid kit you can buy, so there you go.

I hope I didn't put y'all to sleep now, y'hear?

Dave

[Howling Dog]

A bit of trivia, when I was three (many years ago)I was playing with an Eastern Brown, guess what happened? :oops: They use to cut the bite in those days!

[aussiehunter]

another site that may be worth looking at..someone posted over on trad site..

http://www.toxinology.com/


pat :D

[sparra_gump]

Hi guys,

Just an experience i have had with one of these fellas. I love snakes but this is a story about me having to kill one :( i know this was worng but i had not choice.

The first morning i woke up at the place i used to live before i came out of the house in the morning to hang some washing out and there was one of these fellas in the grass, i didn't notice him and when i got too close he got stired up and made his way towards my dog who was chained up in a u shaped cage and couldn't go anywhere.

The snake got too close and sort of flattened out his head and was hissing at my dog so i had little choice but to kill it.

I have had these snakes calm as where i can pick them up and they don't mind but at the same time i have had them really cranky and strike at me, leather gloves will stop the bite but i do not recommend trying to pick one up.

SG.

[irish murphy]

Late last year and early this year i have been way to close for my liking to a lot of browns and black snakes.I am going to get some gators or make some using leather.How thick do you think the leather would need to be so a bite wouldnt penertrate?As thick as a pair of normal work boots?There are a pair in a US site i found.They even have snake proof chaps in camo patterns.

http://www.outdoorsuperstore.com/category.asp?cat=33005

[special]

What type of python is this????

[aussie.rum.pig]

What type of python is this????

it looks like a diamond python

[RazorX]

All I know is that Mozza is the deadliest trouser snake I have ever come accross...

[EcoMuse]

...not that there is anything wrong with that...

[special]

The little blonde chick in the photo is one hell of a girl...has that snake as a pet in a 6' fishtank...cool pet..another tank has her custom hand crafted hunting knife collection..never seen anything like it..dozens of em...and a backyard full of pig dogs!...and shes single..reckon shed make some hunter a lucky man;)