After Eddie's horrendous experience last week, I thought I would try to be organised and get an in car first aid kit etc. for our road trip that's coming up. We're not going to be off road, but we have nothing at the moment and as it's Spring, we may encounter a few snakes when out and about.........

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good car kit that includes a snake kit, or two separate kits? I've had a look, and there's loads!

I remember someone saying on the other thread that crepe are no good, you need elastic bandages for snake bites? I've just seen a snake kit that says it has elasticated crepe bandages which confused me further!!

Thanks. Eddie, I hope HE is recovered now.......

Oh poo - just seen I left the 'e' off bite in the title.........

All you really need are wide compression bandages.... And some less wide compresssion bandages...

The wide ones have to go from toe to top of thigh so you'll probably need 3 wide ones for each leg minimum... Remember angry snakes strike more than once..

And the knowledge of how to apply them...


having said that about knowledge. I'd Rather have dusky toes due to over zealous application and good compression than a dead patient

OK, thanks. I think some of the kits come with a booklet on what to do so I'd go for one of those and read up!! Most of the kits come with a variety of compression bandages and one was giving away 3 extra for free.........

read up on the net... Thers plenty of advice... But the basics are

Apply compression to the entire limb... If you have your wits about you (and I can guarentee most people wont) mark on the outside of the npbandaging where the bite is, thats if its obvious...

immobolise the limb

Immobolise the patient

Reassure the pt, keep them calm and get them to a bloody hospital ASAP...

sticking them in yer car and driving like a fluckwit isnt the best...but IF you know the area and exactly where the nearest ED is then thats an option

But out bush or somewhere unfamiliar or any distance to your nearest ED FFS phone triple 000... They will find you and get you there quicker, as well as being able to make sure correct first aid is in place and being able to make the most of that Golden hour... And medically support the pt should they collapse

As previously mentioned there are lots of different names and products but your looking for something thats has 'heavy duty' and 'elasticated' it may even have crepe or ace written on the product but make sure the first two names are on it. A good guide is the price, one bandage will cost approx $15. 15cm in width will surfice for arms and legs and you will probably need 5 per kit. When applying, make sure that with each wrap you cover half the width of the underlying banadage, so you may need 3-4 bandages in a large adult leg.

Before buying the cheap looking snake bite kits from car shops etc, go to your local chemist and ask them for advice, at least they can show you the product so you have some idea what your looking for in these pre-packed kits. Cheap is not always good.

John

I recently updated my senior first aid and the pressure immobilisation technique has been updated slightly. They now recommend to start by bandaging around the bite site, then bandage up from the bite, always mark bite site with an X and write the time the bandage was applied on the patients forearm. So if bitten on the calf, for instance, to only bandage up from there and not the whole limb as was previously taught. The limb still must be immobilised as before.

I'll pass that onto my ex colleagues in ED... They are still using the whole limb approach....

Thanks

I would strongly advise to re-question your instructor. You are correct in saying to start with firm pressure around the bite site then work your way up the rest of the limb. But leaving the rest of the limb uncovered is wrong. You are then to commence from the toes/fingers and cover the whole limb once again. And of cause splint.

This is taken from the Australian Resuscitation Council (August 2008)

If on a limb, apply a broad pressure bandage over the bite site as soon as possible.. Elasticised bandages (10-15cm wide) are preferred over crepe bandages, if neither are available, clothing or other material should be used.5 [Class A; LOE: III-2]The bandage should be firm and tight, you should be unable to easily slide a finger between the bandage and the skin.
In order to further restrict lymphatic flow and to assist in immobilisation of the limb, apply a further pressure bandage, commencing at the fingers or toes of the bitten limb and extending upward covering as much of the limb as possible.3 [Class A; LOE: III-2] The bandage should be applied over existing clothing if possible. The purpose of this bandage is to further restrict lymphatic flow and assist immobilisation. (Alternatively, a single bandage may be used to achieve both pressure on the bite site and immobilisation of the limb. In this method, the bandage is initially applied to the fingers or toes and extended up the limb as far as possible including the bite site).4, 8 [Class A; LOE: Expert Consensus

John

Oh look, there it is.

Changes the whole meaning of the thread that does... Sounds like a Freddy Starr ate my hamster headline with bit....


Snake bites car first aid kit...

Put an "E" in it and it becomes so LESS interesting

Oh ffs, I can take it out again if you want?

No... i think the barbie needs a thread devoted to how to treat hangovers...
Even if people who drink lager and cider mixed together really deserve NO sympathy.... Or help

Check the date of your information - August 2008 - I did my course in June 2011 and it's the updated technique. My instructor is a paramedic and the reason they now start at the bite site and work up from there is; the limb may not be able to be saved below the bite. More importantly is to stop the venom spreading towards the heart.

Thats a typo on my behalf my apologies but when I noticed it I couldn't edit my message, it should read 2011 but please feel free to go to the website http://www.resus.org.au/

Fortunately snakes in OZ don't cause servere necrosis and or swelling as pressure bandage would be contra indicated as it is in other parts of the world, like most rattlsnakes in the US or pit vipers and most cobras of Asia cause extreme swelling and in conjunction with pressure immobilisation it would cause comparment syndrome.

I'm also a paramedic, I also lecture paramedics and student in envenomations and the management of such. I have been studying clinical toxinology for the past 10 years, attended courses in the Liverpool School of Tropical medicine, recently (2010) post graduate qualification in Clinical Toxinology here in Australia. I'm also Queensland Ambulance Service representative for the government run Marine Stinger Advisory Panel.

Either your first aid instructor has it wrong, or you misunderstood him/her.

Please vistit the above web site.

John