An Australian hospital is urging snakebite victims to stop trying to catch the snakes responsible for their injuries before seeking medical attention. The hospital director of emergency medicine at Bundaberg Hospital near Brisbane stressed that interacting with snakes puts people at risk. About 3,000 people in Australia suffer suspected snakebites each year, with only 100 to 200 cases requiring anti-venom. The hospital has had incidents where patients brought in snakes in plastic containers, causing fear among staff. Doctors do not need to see or identify the snake in order to treat poisonous bites. Patients are advised to stay calm, avoid cleaning the affected area, apply firm pressure, and seek medical attention as soon as possible.
The hospital director cited how one snakebite victim brought an eastern brown snake with them in a plastic food container that was not securely locked. Other patients have brought snakes in plastic bags or loosely sealed containers, causing delays in assessments. The hospital staff had to relocate the snakes to the wild, and doctors do not need to see the snake to determine the anti-venom needed for treatment. The hospital’s guidelines advise patients to focus on their wound, avoid washing the area, firmly bandage it, immobilize the limb, and seek medical attention promptly. Applying a tourniquet, cutting the wound, or bringing the snake to the emergency room are discouraged. The hospital is well-prepared to treat snake bites and has stocks of anti-venom available.
The Wide Bay Hospital & Health Service, which oversees Bundaberg Hospital, posted guidelines on Facebook for snakebite victims. Patients are advised to firmly bandage the affected area, immobilize the limb, mark the bandage to show the bite location, and continue to apply pressure. The guidelines warn against washing the area, applying tourniquets, cutting the wound, or bringing the snake to the emergency room. The hospital is prepared to treat snake bites with polyvalent anti-venom and encourages prompt medical attention for snakebite victims. The hospital director emphasized the importance of focusing on receiving treatment rather than trying to catch or identify the snake that caused the bite.
The hospital’s director of emergency medicine emphasized the need for snakebite victims to avoid attempting to catch or interact with snakes before seeking medical attention. He mentioned incidents where patients brought snakes in poorly secured containers, causing fear among hospital staff. Doctors do not need to see or identify the snake to treat poisonous bites effectively. Patients are advised to stay calm, not clean the affected area, apply firm pressure, and seek medical attention promptly. Guidelines from the hospital advise against washing the area, applying tourniquets, cutting the wound, or bringing the snake to the emergency room.
The hospital’s guidelines for snakebite victims include applying firm pressure, immobilizing the limb, marking the bite location on the bandage, and seeking medical attention promptly. Patients are warned against washing the affected area, applying tourniquets, cutting the wound, or bringing the snake to the emergency room. The hospital has stocks of anti-venom available and is well-prepared to treat snake bites. The hospital director stressed the importance of focusing on receiving treatment rather than attempting to catch or identify the snake that caused the bite. Patients are encouraged to follow the guidelines and seek prompt medical attention for snakebites to ensure effective treatment.
The hospital’s guidelines emphasize the importance of snakebite victims focusing on their wounds and seeking prompt medical attention rather than trying to catch or identify the snake responsible for the bite. Patients are advised to apply firm pressure, avoid cleaning the area, immobilize the limb, and seek medical help as soon as possible. The hospital has anti-venom stocks available and is prepared to treat snake bites effectively. Guidelines warn against applying tourniquets, cutting the wound, or bringing the snake to the emergency room. It is essential for snakebite victims to follow the guidelines provided and seek timely medical attention for successful treatment.
