Friday, Nov 01, 2019 at 11:50
Nick - In the early 1970's, in the Central Great Southern wheatbelt area of W.A., a farmer client of
mine (Clarry) was out by himself in a large paddock, picking up stray mallee roots for firewood, and to clean up the paddock for the coming season - and as he reached down into some long Annual Rye Grass, a Dugite sprung out of the grass and bit him on the arm (a real snake-in-the-grass!).
In those days, there was no mobile phone communications, and Clarry was working alone, a fair distance from the
homestead.
He jumped into his ute, drove
home, rang the local hospital (which was about 40 kms away), and got medical advice from the duty matron.
His wife then drove him to hospital, where snake anti-venom was administered.
In those days, of course, there wasn't the same level of knowledge as today, as regards snakebite venom movement in the body.
It was thought back then, that the snake venom travelled via the bloodstream, and cutting the wound and draining some blood from the bite area would improve the victims chances.
And a tight tourniquet on the affected limb was recommended, to restrict blood flow.
Nowadays, the snake venom travel method through the body is better understood, and we no longer cut the bite area and try to drain blood - nor are tourniquets now recommended.
Despite Clarry using antiquated medical advice, and taking some time to get to hospital, he survived O.K. and suffered no long-term ill effects.
Clarry only died last year at the ripe old age of 92, so it appears the Dugite bite didn't affect his health greatly.
I have spent a lot of time working alone in remote bush areas in the 60's and 70's, and was very alert to the fact that any number of life-threatening events can overtake you quickly, and you must be prepared.
Fortunately, we live in an age today where communication levels are superb, and even in the remotest areas, you can still contact people when you get into trouble.
The level of communications you carry today is your decision - but telling someone where you're going, what your plans are, and when you are likely to return, is the all-important process that worked in the 1960's - it still works today, and it certainly helps Police and Emergency
Services find you faster, if they get notice that you are missing, not responding, or in trouble.
Snakebite is certainly a real concern when working in the bush, in long grass, and when your attention is diverted from the ground.
Wearing long pants of heavy material and good boots, is a good start on reducing snakebite damage. Most bites are on the limbs, and mostly on the leg or foot area.
Never forget that many snakes are also active at night, so don't drop your guard at night time.
If bitten, keeping your body movement to a minimum is the recommended technique, to prevent the spread of venom, which travels through the body via the fat cells and lymph system.
Any muscle movement assists in venom spread. Most people do not get a "full dose" of venom, and quite a number of snakebite victims don't realise they have been bitten, because they think they only scratched themselves on a branch or stick.
Getting professional medical assistance quickly is important - so knowing where, and how, you can get that medical assistance from the area you're travelling into, is good planning.
It's also important to know what the varieties of snake are, that you're likely to encounter, in the area you're travelling into.
Medical recommendations can vary, according to the region, and according to the snake variety.
The RFDS and the QLD Health Dept have excellent advice pages, linked to below.
RFDS - Snakebite adviceQLD Health - Top 5 things you need to do, if you get bitten by a snake
Cheers, Ron.
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