All snake bites must be treated as potentially life-threatening. If you have been bitten by a snake, call triple zero (000) or call 112 if you're in a remote area with poor mobile coverage, and ask for an ambulance.
Even with a less serious type of bite, every snake bite should be treated as a medical emergency — unless you're absolutely sure that the bite came from a non-venomous snake. Any delay in treatment following a venomous snake bite could result in serious injury or, in the worst-case scenario, death.
The whole time staying still. This is exemplary action in a snakebite situation. So stay as still as possible. Don't move a muscle, because moving moves the venom through the body.
Another common plant remedy was the sap of the Native or Cherry Ballart (Exocarpas cupressiformis), used for snake bites.
The estimated incidence of snakebites annually in Australia is between 3 and 18 per 100,000 with an average mortality rate of 0.03 per 100,000 per year, or roughly 1 to 2 persons, down from 13 persons per year in the 1920s.
However according to statistics released by the National Coronial Information Service, eastern browns are responsible for the majority of snake bite deaths. Up to 65 per cent of fatalities between 2000 and 2016 were attributed to the venomous species, which is found across most of eastern Australia.
If there's a family of snakes you don't want to anger, it would be the vipers. While these snakes don't always have the most deadly bites, they have the most painful ones. Van Wallach of the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology has had several viper bites; the worst one, he said, "came from an African bush viper.
Reticulated pythons are one of few snakes that grow big enough to be able to swallow a human. Once they've constricted their prey, their incredible jaw – which in a quirk of evolution features bones that are found in our inner ear – comes into play.
“The venom components are foreign substances in the human body, and just like other foreign bodies, the immune system might potentially react and produce antibodies to neutralise them.
Don't apply ice on the snake bite as the ice may block blood circulation. Don't suck the blood out with your mouth (germs in the mouth may cause infection in the bite wound) and you may be also exposing yourself to the venom. Don't attempt to cut the wound.
The Sind Krait species venom is 40 times more potent that the common cobra, and there is no antivenom.
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.
Elapids, which all deadly Aussie snakes are, have short little fangs, and these fangs have far less penetrating power than vipers such as rattlesnakes. Most Aussie snakes can't effectively bite through denim, whereas American snake boots, for example, are made of kevlar, and will deflect a .
Antivenom is the only definitive treatment for effective bites by venomous Australian snakes. Prior to the availability of antivenom, death ensued in approximately 45% of tiger snake envenomations and more than 90% of taipan envenomations.
The largest animals in the skink family, blue-tongues seem to have evolved a chemical resistance to the snake venom, while carnivorous monitor lizards – goannas – that feed on Australia's venomous snakes have not.
"Around 30 million years ago it appears that the world changed, and subsequently there was an influx of lizard and snakes into Australia," Oliver said. "We think this is linked to how Australia's rapid movement north, by continental movement standards, has changed ocean currents and global climates."
Swelling may become apparent within 15 minutes and becomes massive in 2-3 days. It may persist for up to 3 weeks. The swelling spreads rapidly from the site of the bite and may involve the whole limb and adjacent trunk. Regional lymphadenopathy may develop.
Venomous snakes have two fangs that deliver venom when they bite. A venomous snake bite will usually leave two clear puncture marks. In contrast, a nonvenomous bite tends to leave two rows of teeth marks. It can be difficult to tell the difference between puncture wounds from venomous and nonvenomous snakes.