As a general rule snakes are a secretive timid animal that are unlikely to want to waste their physiologically expensive venom on an animal they are going to be unable to prey upon. However, in rare cases as a result of either provocation or just wrong time wrong place bites can occur.
For this reason I have outlined correct snake bite first aid below;
1 – If unsure treat ALL snake bites or suspected snake bites as a medical emergency
2 – Call an ambulance immediately on 000
3 – Try and keep the patient as calm as possible as this will both slow the process of venom and provide an environment conducive to correct and effective first aid
4 – Apply a firm pressure bandage to the bitten limb starting at the fingers or toes and working up until the whole limb is covered. For bites to torso or head apply firm pressure to the bite site.
5 – Mark the bandage at the bite site
6 – Restrict the patients movement until medical help arrives, a splint or sling can help with this
DO NOT elevate the bite site
DO NOT use an arterial tourniquet
DO NOT try and catch or kill the snake
DO NOT wash the bite site
The best way to avoid a bite is to never approach a snake unless with a certified, experienced snake catcher who can ensure a correct ID is made and understands the temperament of different species
Thanks for reading!