What you and your team should know about snake bites

What you and your workers should know about snake bites.
In an emergency, having the right training and knowledge for a quick first-aid response can save lives.
You should talk with your team about what to do if anyone is bitten by a snake, where snake bites commonly occur and the importance of identifying deadly snakes.

Snakes will often be close to farmhouses and buildings in search of water or mice. Maintaining a clean yard area, including keeping water sources located in set areas, removing attractions for rodents and maintaining vegetation levels will help lessen the attraction for snakes. This type of yard maintenance also reduces fire fuel loads in peak fire seasons.

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More than 90% of snakebites happen on the upper or lower limbs, so ensuring you have adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) can provide protection when the correct footwear, long pants and sleeves and gloves are used while working outside.

The brown snake was the most common biter (41%), followed by the tiger snake (17%) and red-bellied black snake (16%). Three-quarters of the people bitten by snakes are males aged in their 30s - a common demographic among Australian farmers

To learn more on what to do if you get bitten by a snake, see visit the Safe Ag Systems blog.

How should you react if you get bitten by a snake

It is essential to act quickly yet calmly after a snake bite. Here are our top 6 do’s and don’ts if you are bitten by a snake:

• Do seek medical help immediately as the venom can cause severe damage to health or even death within a few hours.
• Do NOT allow the victim to walk or move their limbs. Use a splint or sling to minimise all limb movement. Put the patient on a stretcher or bring transportation to the patient.
• Do NOT incise or cut the bite or apply a high tourniquet. Cutting or incising the bite won't help. High tourniquets are ineffective and can be fatal if released.
• Do bandage firmly, splint and immobilise to stop the spread of venom. All the major medical associations recommend slowing the spread of venom by placing a folded pad over the bite area and then applying a firm bandage. It should not stop blood flow to the limb or congest the veins. Only remove the bandage in a medical facility, as the release of pressure will cause a rapid flow of venom through the bloodstream.
• Do NOT wash the area of the bite or try to suck out the venom. It is extremely important to retain traces of venom for use with venom identification kits.
• Do NOT attempt to catch/kill the snake. Recent advances in medication mean that snakebites can be treated with a generic polyvalent anti-venom, so you do not need to stay in the area to identify the colour and type of snake.

Once initial first aid has been applied in any situation, medical attention should be sought immediately. When it comes to emergencies, empowered agricultural employees are safe employees.

To learn more on how to react if you get bitten by a snake, see their blog at Safe Ag Systems.

Source: Top 6 things you need to do if you get bitten by a snake (safeagsystems.com)