:
STAY ALIVE
SNAKE SAFETY
THIS TIME OF YEAR, IT’S MORE IMPORTANT
THAN EVER TO BE SNAKE-VIGILANT. HERE
ARE SOME TIPS FROM SOMEONE WHO’S
ENCOUNTERED PLENTY IN HIS TRAVELS.
Australia is known for its dangerous fauna, but
it’s our native snakes that top the deadly list. The
chances of you encountering a snake here in Oz
are higher than you might think, with about 170
species calling Australia home. So it goes without
saying that being prepared for an encounter with
our slithery friends is not only important, it’s a
matter of life and death.
Being reptiles, snakes tend to laze around during
the colder months and wait for the heat to get
a move on, but it’s important to know how to
identify them and take protective measures
if you stumble upon one, especially if they
are venomous.
For example, if you’re bitten by an eastern brown
snake – the second most venomous snake in the
world – the deadly cocktail of toxins will make its
way through your bloodstream, take hold of your
nervous system and muscles, and eventually put
you into cardiac arrest. As if that wasn’t enough,
they’re also known to be highly aggressive and
cause the most snake bite fatalities in Australia.
If you are unlucky enough to encounter a snake,
remember the following:
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Stay calm: Avoid trying to scare it off and begin
slowly moving away – there is no need to pose
as a threat because we’re not seen as food and
snakes only attack if they feel threatened.
Contact your local wildlife rescue: Don’t be a hero
and attempt to catch the snake because chances
are you’ll end up provoking it. Leave this part to
the experts.
Call an ambulance: If bitten, seek medical help
immediately; they’ve got the knowledge and
experience to help you through this.
Wrap it up: While you wait for help, apply firm
pressure with a pressure bandage (see the first-
aid advice on page 50) or any available material
on and around the bitten area. Despite the
common belief, don’t try to suck the venom out
of the wound or wash it; otherwise, the nature
of the bite can’t be identified to ensure proper
treatment.
Breathe slowly: Stay calm and try to stabilise your
heart rate while you wait – this will slow down the
flow of venom. The more you move, the faster it
will spread.