Snake bite treatment UPDATE

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Dot
Posts: 23479
Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2012 6:12 pm
Location: Strathalbyn SA

Snake bite treatment UPDATE

Post by Dot »

Let’s start with a
Basic overview.

There are five genus of snakes that will harm us (seriously)
Browns, Blacks, Adders, Tigers and Taipans.

All snake venom is made up of huge proteins (like egg white). When bitten, a snake injects some venom into the meat of your limb (NOT into your blood).

This venom can not be absorbed into the blood stream from the bite site.

It travels in a fluid transport system in your body called the lymphatic system (not the blood stream).

Now this fluid (lymph) is moved differently to blood.
Your heart pumps blood around, so even when you are lying dead still, your blood still circulates around the body. Lymph fluid is different. It moves around with physical muscle movement like bending your arm, bending knees, wriggling fingers and toes, walking/exercise etc.

Now here is the thing. Lymph fluid becomes blood after these lymph vessels converge to form one of two large vessels (lymphatic trunks)which are connected to veins at the base of the neck.

Back to the snake bite site.
When bitten, the venom has been injected into this lymph fluid (which makes up the bulk of the water in your tissues).

The only way that the venom can get into your blood stream is to be moved from the bite site in the lymphatic vessels. The only way to do this is to physically move the limbs that were bitten.

Stay still!!! Venom can’t move if the victim doesn’t move.
Stay still!!

Remember people are not bitten into their blood stream.

In the 1980s a technique called Pressure immobilisation bandaging was developed to further retard venom movement. It completely stops venom /lymph transport toward the blood stream.

A firm roll bandage is applied directly over the bite site (don’t wash the area).

Technique:
Three steps: keep them still
Step 1
Apply a bandage over the bite site, to an area about 10cm above and below the bite.
Step 2:
Then using another elastic roller bandage, apply a firm wrap from Fingers/toes all the way to the armpit/groin.

The bandage needs to be firm, but not so tight that it causes fingers or toes to turn purple or white. About the tension of a sprain bandage.

Step 3:
Splint the limb so the patient can’t walk or bend the limb.

Do nots:
Do not cut, incise or suck the venom.
Do not EVER use a tourniquet
Don’t remove the shirt or pants - just bandage over the top of clothing.
Remember movement (like wriggling out of a shirt or pants) causes venom movement.

DO NOT try to catch, kill or identify the snake!!! This is important.

In hospital we NO LONGER NEED to know the type of snake; it doesn’t change treatment.

5 years ago we would do a test on the bite, blood or urine to identify the snake so the correct anti venom can be used.
BUT NOW...
we don’t do this. Our new Antivenom neutralises the venoms of all the 5 listed snake genus, so it doesn’t matter what snake bit the patient.

Read that again- one injection for all snakes!
Polyvalent is our one shot wonder, stocked in all hospitals, so most hospitals no longer stock specific Antivenins.

Australian snakes tend to have 3 main effects in differing degrees.

Bleeding - internally and bruising.
Muscles paralysed causing difficulty talking, moving & breathing.
Pain
In some snakes severe muscle pain in the limb, and days later the bite site can break down forming a nasty wound.

Allergy to snakes is rarer than winning lotto twice.

Final tips: not all bitten people are envenomated and only those starting to show symptoms above are given antivenom.

Did I mention to stay still.
~Rob Timmings
Queen of the Banal & OT chatter and proud of it. If it offends you then tough titty titty bang bang.
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dapope
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Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2012 2:43 pm
Location: N.F.A.

Re: Snake bite treatment UPDATE

Post by dapope »

Spot on Dot :D
Wobblybox on wheels
Pace Arrow. La de da, property in two continents..
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Greynomad
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Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2012 4:16 pm
Location: Rutherglen, Vic.

Re: Snake bite treatment UPDATE

Post by Greynomad »

Handy info, Dot.
I have an RFDS first aid booklet in Girt which gives the treatment, but your post explains WHY to do it.
That’s really helpful, as it warns me what NOT to do, as well as what to do.
Thanks.
Regards & God bless,
Ray
--
"Insufficient data for a meaningful answer."
Isaac Asimov, "The Last Question"

"I refuse to drink water, because of the disgusting things fish do in it"
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bagmaker
Posts: 886
Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2013 4:56 pm
Location: Victoria

Re: Snake bite treatment UPDATE

Post by bagmaker »

one hates to argue but tis only a very good chance that you will not get bit directly into the bloodstream, not 100% muscular injection every time.
Like when you cut yourself, sometimes its a fountain, sometimes there is just a drip. You will just be a dead a whole lot quicker if Mr asp hits a vein.
The advise is the same, pressure bandage, chill out and have someone get help.
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