By Jordyn Grubisic
WITH hotter climate comes snake season and with it the unusual – however not unimaginable – likelihood of being bitten, however Mitchell Shire residents ought to be conscious they are going to have to be transported to Epping’s Northern Hospital relatively than being handled regionally.
In Victoria there are three venomous snakes – brown, tiger and red-bellied black – nonetheless snake envenomation is uncommon in Australia with a median of two snake envenomation deaths recorded in Australia every year.
Under the state snake chew tips, all sufferers with a suspected snakebite ought to be managed in a facility with access to antivenom, crucial care services and a 24-hour laboratory for blood exams.
If the factors usually are not met, inter-hospital switch is required – even for asymptomatic sufferers.
A Northern Health spokesperson stated its determination to not inventory antivenom at Kilmore District Hospital aligned with state tips.
“As per state guidelines, antivenom should be administered in a hospital with direct access to an intensive care unit,” the spokesperson stated.
“Patients presenting at Kilmore Urgent Care Centre with a suspected snake bite would be stabilised and transferred by ambulance to Northern Hospital, Epping.”
Austin Health’s poisons info specialist Janet Browning stated hospitals adopted the rules when deciding to inventory antivenoms.
“For safety reasons only hospitals or other emergency medical personnel administer antivenom,” she stated.
“Like many highly specialised treatments, antivenom is complex and costly to make and has an expiry date.”
Ms Browning stated antivenom therapy was lifesaving however ought to be given with consideration.
“It is important that antivenom is not given indiscriminately to all patients with a suspected snakebite as there is a risk of anaphylaxis associated with antivenom,” she stated.
“If a patient is showing signs of envenomation, based on clinical symptoms or pathology results, then yes, administration of antivenom as early as possible is vital.
“Antivenom needs to be given with emergency medical personnel in attendance or providing remote advice.
“Unfortunately, there are many isolated areas in Australia, so logistical problems with medical emergencies like snakebite envenomations are managed on a daily basis by our excellent ambulance and health services.”
Medical recommendation recommends that every one suspected snakebites ought to be handled as probably harmful with triple zero referred to as instantly and first help undertaken.
A constrictive bandage must be utilized over clothes from beneath the chew website up the limb so far as doable.
The sufferer ought to minimise bodily motion with transport dropped at the sufferer and the chew website shouldn’t be washed, whereas the bandage ought to be solely eliminated by medical workers after hospital arrival.
Do not try and catch the snake for identification – it’s not vital and harmful to take action – brown and tiger antivenom will cowl all Victorian snakes.
