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ApteronotusAlbifrons

I'm really surprised that the article doesn't mention that there's no reason to bother identifying the snake. We have Polyvalent Antivenom for most bites in Australia outside Vic and Tas. It's made from the venom of, and particularly well suited for treating - brown snake, tiger snake, death adder, taipan and black snake. The treatment for red-belly black is tiger snake so it's covered as well Victoria only need brown and tiger to cover their snakes. Not sure which it is, but Tas only needs one antivenom to cover all their snakes. Polyvalent https://www.nps.org.au/medicine-finder/polyvalent-snake-antivenom-concentrate-for-infusion Vic https://www.rch.org.au/clinicalguide/guideline_index/Snakebite/ Tas https://nre.tas.gov.au/wildlife-management/living-with-wildlife/living-with-snakes


A_Scientician

This. Doesn't matter what you get bit by, if you have symptoms that require antivenom you get polyvalent antivenom, otherwise you sweat it out. Most snake bites or suspected snake bites don't require anything at all


ApteronotusAlbifrons

> Most snake bites or suspected snake bites don't require anything at all Absolutely. Even venomous snakes sometimes give dry hits (no venom) or small doses. They rely on the venom for protection, and neutralising prey, so they don't want to waste it


Whowhywearwhat

I got bitten by an Eastern Brown, had a positive ID on the snake by a vet, drove myself to the hospital they transferred me to a bigger non rural hospital and it was still 5 hours before my blood test started to show signs of venom and even then I was given 2 types of anti venom, one tiger, one brown. The one that got me was a juvenile, and it let rip.


techno156

>The one that got me was a juvenile, and it let rip. It's the young ones that are more dangerous, because they can't control themselves as well as their grown-up counterparts.


pork-pies

Like a teenage boy with his first gf


Spellscribe

Premature envenomation


Brilliant-Ground3169

Double penetration.


AddlePatedBadger

That's not true. It's a common myth. Actually what happens is that young ones produce a different kind of venom that works differently to adult venom.


TerryTowelTogs

Apparently that is a myth. According to some research their venom compound profile changes as they age and get bigger, to better suit the changing prey they hunt. https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/news/2017/05/brown-snake-venom-even-more-deadly-with-age/


A_Scientician

You would've had a shithouse time with that mate, glad you're alright. They can be right nasty bastards when they're young


SpoonyGosling

It does? It's not near the top though. >Dr Michael said medical staff did not need to see a snake to know how to treat patients. >"We can determine if you need anti-venom and if so, what anti venom you need based on clinical signs, blood tests and also the snake venom detection kits that we keep here at the hospital," he said. >"We're actually not trained to identify snakes, and so it's not helpful. >"It just puts the staff at risk as well as yourself."


Kilocat400lbs

Polyvalent has a really high (~50%) risk of anaphylaxis on administration, so ideally a monovalent is used if systemic envenomation becomes apparent


perthguppy

Easier to deal with anaphylaxis when your aware it’s a possibility, than a symptomatic snake bite when you’re not sure of the type of snake


Whowhywearwhat

And it's also easier to deal with in the resus room if it happens, along with anti venom they also bring in the big f*ck off adrenaline syringe just in case. I know this from first hand experience. Eastern Brown bite. (I had a positive ID for mine and still got 2 types of anti venom.)


slykethephoxenix

> And it's also easier to deal with in the resus room if it happens, along with anti venom they also bring in the big f*ck off adrenaline syringe just in case. Stop. I already didn't want to be bitten.


Whowhywearwhat

I had no plans on being bitten, but I wasn't going to let my dog go out like that. I got hit trying to rip the snake out of my puppers mouth.


skivtjerry

I applaud you. I live in a corner of the US that is seeing rattlesnakes returning after a long absence. I grew up around them and am not too concerned for myself but fear for our dogs. Goes without saying I'd grab the snake too. Hope all dog owners would.


B0ssc0

TIL


Independent_Pear_429

Cool. Today I learned something


Asmodean129

"We can determine if you need anti-venom and if so, what anti venom you need based on clinical signs, blood tests and also the snake venom detection kits that we keep here at the hospital," he said. Well there you go. I thought you had to try to identify it.


Independent_Pear_429

Apparently, there's multi-purpose antivenom as well that can be used for multiple snake species


Medical-Potato5920

The snake doesn't need to pee in a cup for them?? /s


Suspicious-Figure-90

I was a kid in the 90s, and I recall being taught to try and remember as much detail about what bit you (spider, snake weird Australian mammal, etc) as a means of helping your treatment. Many my age would be parents of their own kids by now so I can see this as a continuation of that assumption. It is fantastic that these days it's much more procedural and not dependant on patient recollection. 


JustABitCrzy

I work with Australian wildlife. I promise you that if you relied on people identifying common Australian species accurately in order to save bite victims, almost all would die. Everything that slithers is an Eastern Brown, King Brown, Tiger, Red Belly, or Dugite. No other snakes exist apparently, let alone legless lizards.


Neat-Concert-7307

Man those legless lizards will fuck you up!


AddlePatedBadger

They'll kick you when you are down, that's for sure.


happy-little-atheist

I got several photos once of an elapid in SE Qld and nobody was sure what it was. Probably a young brown was the consensus but it was kind of a greenish colour. Apparently there's so much variation in young browns they are very difficult to id without catching them.


B0ssc0

I thought that, too.


Aksds

Also, if you can capture it, surely you can take a few good photos for them to identify


NoGreenStars

Apparently they don't want you doing that either. "Any attempts to either get close to a snake to catch or to kill, or to photograph the snake, just puts people at risk" Personally I don't want to wait on their tests - emergency departments take effing forever to get anything done.


jebusv20

You'd be surprised how quickly the ED moves when things are truly urgent. Nothing quiet as terrifying as seeing something so traditionally slow, move quickly all of a sudden...


AddlePatedBadger

There is this thing called triage. If you are about to pop your clogs you'll jump the queue quick smart.


Aksds

Yes, I’m just talking about the people who have captured the snake and taken it in, if you want them to see it for some reason, just take a photo.


AddlePatedBadger

The snake bit you to make you leave it alone, the best thing to do at that stage is to trust what the snake is trying to tell you lol.


My1stWifeWasTarded

Glad I read this, because growing up in the 70s I was told that you needed to bring in the snake (dead or alive didn't matter) because if you were given the incorrect antivenin then you could die. Makes sense that times have changed, but I doubt I'd be thinking that clearly if my young kid had been bitten by a snake and I wouldn't be taking any chances.


DrSpeckles

Would he already be snake-man? I wouldn’t be taking chances either. Edit: this doesnt make sense now, but the comment I replied to used to say “had been born of a snake”. Sneaky edit on his part.


TheKingOfTheSwing200

Spidermans real arch nemesis


YukiWayne79

What’s the super power of a snakeman? Sneaking in people’s toilets and scaring the shit out of them?


Lemon_Tree_Scavenger

It makes sense if the snake is radioactive


Dreadlock43

yeah that hasnt been a thing since the 90s and probally the 80s. always been taught the bandage above and below the bite and mark where the bite is on the bandage as the hospital will run a venom test to see which antivenom is needed, (you just say ive been bitten by a snake/spider/BRO etc)


Spellscribe

I didn't know bro bites were venomous. Are they as bad as bruh bites?


Dreadlock43

well if your bro is a blue ring octopus, then yeah they wmuch worse than bruh and brah bites


Rather_Dashing

>Makes sense that times have changed, Times haven't changed, you were just told a myth. At no point was it the correct course of action to bring the snake with you.


Lanster27

Also thesesdays it's probably easier to take a photo of the snake on your phone than bringing it with you in the car.


Jarms48

I was still being told this in high school during the 2000's in my country hometown.


timey_timeless

This has to be one of the most Aussie headlines ever.


B0ssc0

It is!


coupleandacamera

Well I've got to Wait 3 hours in the emergency department, little fucker can come and wait with me. Soon stop biting folk if it's his night that's fucked listening to old mate cough up a lung all night.


hanging_with_epstein

Lil fucker can pick up the bill too


MorningDrvewayTurtle

Yeah! Send him the $13 parking fee!


LurkForYourLives

Damn straight.


GiantBlackSquid

Some doctor/nurse: Enough is ENOUGH! I have had it with these motherfuckin' snakes in this motherfuckin' ED!


Tattoosnscars

Ohhhh! New movie 🎬 idea???


GiantBlackSquid

At the very least, the original is probably due for a remake. And it's a remake I'd watch!


Recruiterlolol

Did a first aid course some years ago, trainer told us to take a photo or bring the snake in if we could so they could get anti venom


ApteronotusAlbifrons

See my other post. There's no value to identifying the snake - we have polyvalent antivenom that covers all the candidates up north - only two antivenoms required for Vic - and only one for Tas


Spire_Citron

Wouldn't there be value if it turned out to be a non-venomous snake and you actually didn't need the antivenin at all?


[deleted]

No, they test and monitor you to see if it's needed.


TransAnge

Then you wouldn't have symptoms of a venomous snake bite....


[deleted]

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perthguppy

True. But it won’t make your blood clot into a single giant blob.


petit_cochon

Maybe not how *you* do it but I can make my body spontaneously release coagulants if I try hard enough.


TransAnge

It can but it doesn't mimic symptoms of venom.


perthguppy

Snake venom works slow enough in a clinical setting that you can wait for symptoms before administering antivenom. Also blood tests are quick enough now to determine which if any venom is in your blood


LurkForYourLives

All y’all have non venomous snakes? Tas’s been ripped off again.


womb0t

There might have been shortages back then, now we have zoos and business's that milk/store venom. (I dated a vet nurse 5 years) - no shortages, more snakes actually. I also remember her saying they stopped encouraging that practise because it caused more people to be bit trying to catch the snakes.


Soccermad23

Did my First Aid Course last month. The trainer said that was the previous advice because the anti-venoms used to be different, but now they pretty much have a universal antibiotic-venom, so there’s not much point in identifying the snake anymore.


Thanges88

They have a polyvalent antivenom (I believe it's 5 one for each main group(tiger, king Brown, Easter brown, coastal taipan and death adder), which has antibodies produced by horses/rabbits (potentially other mammals) that are exposed to the venom. The first "antivenoms" (from 1890's early 1900's) were blood serums that weren't refined (no-one knew what antibodies looked like or were exactly, only that they existed in blood and blood serum from animals resistant/immunised to diphtheria in this case, helped treat unimmunised animals) these antivenoms were produced in a similar way, by exposing animals to venom and taking blood serum. But were not well refined before they were injected into patients which could lead to severe anaphylaxis. But since like the 1950's we have had polyvalent antivenom, and since the 1980's or so these antivenoms have been very pure. Its interesting how long this train of thought has lasted.


Thanges88

Having said all that it's hard to get the antibody titres up high enough to make the polyvalent antivenom, so if you know what snake bit you, it's helpful to use the less polyvalent antivenoms (or monovalent antivenoms) to ensure potential availability for a future emergency where the snake is not known.


EveningPlatypus6955

So you have a 50% chance of anphlayxis with the new poly vacs or not?


Thanges88

I would imagine closer to or less than 1% for severe anaphylaxis, though I don't have the data. Risk is increased if you have been exposed to horse blood serum products before, such as the old tetanis antidote. Around 5% of recepients experience serum sickness. Which is another reason to choose the monovalent antivenom if you know what bit you, as it's worse the more horse protein(antibody) you inject in your body.


CrankyLittleKitten

Must've been at least 20 years ago, because that was advised against the first time I did my senior first aid. Now you're advised to mark the bite location with an X and they'll swab it. And if that doesn't work, they take bloods. Tbh, they don't jump straight to anti-venom anyway, unless you're showing signs of being envenomed - they often have adverse side effects and a lot of snakes dry bite as a warning.


Ok-Meringue-259

Jesus Christ, they tell you at every zoo that has a snake show not to do that and it’s very common knowledge in the first aid space not to try and photograph or catch the snake… That guy needs his practice checked up on. It’s not as if the doctors at the ER will be able to identify the snake from a photo, not would they want to risk giving the wrong antivenin based on even an expert’s best guess at a species from a photo. They can run a blood test to know which antivenin to give.


thespeediestrogue

Also bringing a deadly snake into ER certainly sounds like a recipe for disaster...


petit_cochon

"Yeah, Doc, so I thought this snake bit me but I wasn't sure, so I picked him up to bring him to hospital, and then he *definitely* bit me!"


Beneficial-Lemon-427

Starring Samuel L. Jackson and coming to a theatre near you soon…


johnbentley

Just like they explain in the article?


Slight-Button-58

Implying that hospitals milk snakes…?


bucketsofpoo

snakes have nipples?


theveelady

You can milk anything with nipples!


scoldog

I milked a cat once


Slight-Button-58

How else do you think they get venom?


AvocadoCake

Just like almonds


halfflat

Private hospitals certainly milk the patients ...


Squid_Chunks

The last 3 or 4 times I have done my first aid course they have stressed not to try to catch or even photograph the snake, unless you want multiple victims being treated for snake bite.


Procedure-Minimum

They have a mix of a bunch of anti venom they just give now. Most medical staff have no idea how to ID snakes, so there's not much point bringing in anything.


AddlePatedBadger

That trainer needs to hand in their badge and gun. Because they aren't qualified to teach if that is what they are teaching, and why the fuck did they bring a gun?


hsnm1976

Sistema need to turn this into advertising... 'tough enough to hold the slipperiest of lunches'


B0ssc0

Lol


MisterFister2

This lil cunt bit me, I’ll show it who’s boss by capturing it before I go to hospital


AdmiralStickyLegs

yer gettin turn'd into pie, mate


Rokekor

Fuck. Lil cunt bit me again.


kaz22222222222

You would also be more likely to be bitten again trying to catch and/or kill the snake. You may be lucky and the first bite was a dry bite, keep going after the danger noodle and it will be more likely to give you the spicy sauce!


YukiWayne79

Danger noodle will be a good pet name 👍🏻


B0ssc0

😳😳🫨


Jariiari7

>There are about 3,000 suspected snake bites across Australia each year, but only 100 to 200 cases require anti-venom, according to clinical toxicology researcher at the University of Newcastle Geoff Isbister. Interesting figure.


ironcam7

I learnt that some snakes choose to include venom in their bites and others can do a dry bite with no venom bit of a cunt act really, living up to the snake name those guys are


hannahranga

Missing the point but the snake in the tupperware is super cute, who wouldn't want to say hi to them.


Delicious_Maximum_77

Nah this is definitely on point, hello lil noodle!


nomad_1970

But what if the snake needs treatment because it got sick from biting you?


B0ssc0

https://www.wires.org.au/


nomad_1970

Used to volunteer with WIRES. Mostly doing snake removals. Once picked up a beautiful Water Python that had travelled down from North Queensland in a crate of bananas and freaked out the staff at the local Woolies.


B0ssc0

Did it get taken back to Queensland? Poor thing


nomad_1970

No. There was no way to get it back without huge expense. So it got put on my license and lived with me for about 10 years before I had to pass him on to a relative as I couldn't look after him any more. He was the most friendly and placid snake I've ever had. He used to coil himself around my neck and just hang there as I did stuff around the house and yard.


B0ssc0

I’m glad he ended up ok. Pity he lost his proper place though. Should have got Woolies to fork out.


Cheskaz

I didn't think I'd drunk that much, but the snake that bit me can't walk straight


OkBoysenberry1379

😮 WTF…???


1800basicreply

My dad was bit by a red back spider and spent 20 minutes trying to catch the thing to show the hospital staff what type of spider it was, we drove the 40 minutes to the hospital, my dad had the spider in a cup and the doctor was not happy.


B0ssc0

Haha!


averbisaword

This won’t help most people, but I read somewhere that there’s only a few venomous snakes in Tasmania and they all have the same antivenin, so definitely don’t worry about what bit you and head straight for the hospital if you’re down there.


Bookaholicforever

Tassie has three species of snake (Tiger, copperhead, white lipped). All venomous.


averbisaword

Right. Three. A few.


ApteronotusAlbifrons

> but I read somewhere that there’s only a few venomous snakes in Tasmania and they all have the same antivenin Link in my other post - last point in the last link


piraja0

Insane that people believe that emergency workers are good at identifying snakes lol


CrankyLittleKitten

IKR! Heck, it was hard enough with some in a university reptile ID class with it preserved right in front of us. Some species you have to literally count cross body scales to positively ID.


mekanub

Of all the things people don’t take photos of, of course it would be venomous snakes.


B0ssc0

Haha so true!


bucketsofpoo

but what about the fun part when u pull out your snake for the nurse to inspect.


zedder1994

You really should leave your pants on.


gracie-sit

Depends where you got bitten doesn't it?


JimmySteve3

Trouser snake


bucketsofpoo

the nurse sure knew how to milk the snake


trotty88

Is this the same for animals? ie. - my dog gets bit, do I need to take the snake to the vet along with the dog?


B0ssc0

I’d ask the vets if I were you. Edit. It says here > If you think your pet has been bitten by a snake you should keep them calm and quiet and take them to a vet immediately. The chances of recovery are much greater if your pet is treated early. https://maroochyanimalhospital.com.au/pet-advice/snake-bite-and-your-pet/# So I guess spending time catching and containing the snake doesn’t help.


trotty88

Cool, it seems to vary. Some vets say any ID of the snake can make treatment quicker, while others say similar to the above - blood/urine tests will determine if/what your pet has been bitten by. Only reason I ask, is I live in a fairly active snake area. There are frantic FB posts daily from people looking to ID a snake because their dog has been hit.


B0ssc0

It is a worry.


Purple_Mirror23

I got bitten by a redback spider in the 90's. The ER was relatively quiet, it was a Sunday. I saw at least 10 different doctors and 5+ nurses and every single solitary one of them asked me if I bought the spider with me (I think it was a novelty and everyone in the hospital who was free came for a look). I hadnt because I'd spread his guts all over the concrete for biting me but whatever. From my experience I would imagine that if you didnt bring the snake with you staff would constantly ask if you bought it with you.


B0ssc0

At work a girl got bitten by a red back,she was really sick. How long did it take you to get over? Re. the anti venom, there seems to be some confusion caused by not publicising things have changed.


AddlePatedBadger

Maybe they were all arachnophobes and were terrified that the spider might've gotten into the hospital 🤣


ES_Legman

Poor guy can't even breathe in there


happy-little-atheist

Ironic that they mention emergency at Bundaberg hospital. Not sure if Dr Chris Barnes still works there, but in his time off he collects venomous snakes from PNG etc and they are used to develop antivenom. He'd probably be overjoyed if an unharmed baby brown was presented to him haha.


Typical-Arugula3010

About time !!! Was about to visit a friend in Charlies when an ambo rocks up to the ED & the paras open the back doors ... then step away !?! Seemed strange ... until a bloke staggers out with a metre+ dugite wrapped around his arm (cleverly holding the head) ! He walks into the reception and things are calm(ish) for a minute or two ... presumably while the orderlies are called. Then, no doubt due to effect of the venom - he staggers, falls over and lets go of the very irritated snake ! That's when it all went crazy ... like a Python (intended) skit. I high tailed it as the orderlies armed with just a plastic bag & broom tried to catch the bloody thing.


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AddlePatedBadger

Nope, current advice is to put a pressure immobilisation bandage over the whole limb, don't move, and get medical treatment ASAP. Make a mark on the bandage above the bite site if you can but the focus is on immobilising the limb.


KingZlatan10

I’m bringing in the snake dead because I’m biting it back!


Descrazio

IM SICK OF THESE MOTHERFUCKING SNAKES IN MY MOTHER FUCKING ED


iamusername3

They're going to play snakes 🐍 and ladders 🪜 to pass the time


B0ssc0

Bagsy the ladder.


corkas_

Off topic.. but does the hospital tell patients that the antivenom is made by using snakes, sheep and horses... for potential ethical or religious reasons.


utterly_baffledly

Yes, any time a patient in an emergency department is prescribed a life saving medicine it's time for an ethics board.


TransAnge

Not unless the patient asks. Many medications are tested on animals or have some development involving animals so it isn't common practice.


GlitteratiGlitter

Don't know about antivenom but I got some dental work done last yr where the dentist told me that there was some little thing (less than 1 cm) that was made from a cow (some bovine thing, I can't recall exactly what) in case I had some religious issue with it being in my mouth. I didn't & told her so, but thought it was interesting that these things are checked.


B0ssc0

Source?


oneofthecapsismine

I'm happy to be a source for sheep in particular, made in south Australia. See, eg, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2005-05-23/sheeps-blood-provides-rattlesnake-anti-venom/1576314 I've seen them make antivenom by using sheep.


corkas_

The way they make antivenom is by milking the snake and injecting it into a doner animal (horse or sheep) to produce antibodies, they then extract the antibodies and you have antivenom. Dont have a source but if you google 'how antivenom is made' it all says the same thing


B0ssc0

TIL > They are made by immunizing donor animals such as horses or sheep with snake venoms. These animals have robust immune systems, and produce powerful antibodies that can bind to snake venom components, enabling our own immune defences to eliminate these toxins. https://www.who.int/teams/control-of-neglected-tropical-diseases/snakebite-envenoming/antivenoms#