Stay alert to bites and stings this summer

5 January 2009

While most Australians enjoy spending time outdoors during summer, it is important to remain alert to potentially dangerous animals, insects and reptiles.

Summer is not only the time that the creepy crawlies are out and about, but also the time when most Australians spend time outdoors and are least likely to be wearing shoes.

January is the prime time for snake and spider bites. On average across NSW, there are more than 1000 presentations to emergency departments each January from snake and spider bites, with the majority of these coming from rural and coastal areas.

Tamworth Hospital Emergency Department doctor, John Kennedy, has urged families to learn how to respond to snake and spider bites quickly and properly, and to seek medical attention if they occur.

“Applying first aid quickly is crucial and can help save the life of someone who has been bitten by a snake or spider,” Dr Kennedy said.

He said by far the greatest number of bites occur on arms and legs.

“Understanding the correct first aid is vital for treating a snake bite and can sometimes make the difference between life and death,” he said.

The bites from snakes, funnel web spiders and mouse spiders, all require the same first aid, because the way the poison spreads through the body.

The procedure is:

• Call 000
• Place a firm bandage to the limb (arm or leg) commencing at the bite site, then wrapping down to the fingers or toes and then up to the limb to the hip or shoulder
• Keep the limb still
• Bring transport to the patient
• The patient should not attempt to walk or run
• Under no circumstances should the bandage be removed until the patient has reached hospital

The treatment for Red Back spider bite is to apply an ice pack and seek medical attention. This treatment also applies to blue bottle stings, ensuring that the tentacles are removed before applying the cold pack.

Dr Kennedy said avoiding bites from the everyday mosquito was also very important due to the seasonal increase in the number of cases of Ross River Fever and Barmah Forest Virus.

“While we enjoy the outdoors during summer, it’s important to remain alert to potentially dangerous animals, insects and reptiles, and to take precautions against mosquito bites,” Dr Kennedy said.

(HNE-1687)

Contact: Carisa Josephs

Phone: (02) 6767 7135 or 0428 106 183