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Spiders

If bitten by a spider always try to capture the culprit for identification purposes. Preserve it in spirit and bring it ...

Spiders

If bitten by a spider always try to capture the culprit for identification purposes. Preserve it in spirit and bring it along with you to the doctors or hospital, even if it has been squashed. Pressure-immobilisation is only recommended for funnel web spider bites. A variety of common house and garden spiders frequently deliver bites but usually only result in a little local pain and swelling. Ice packs may be useful for local pain relief. Medical advice should be sought if local changes are causing concern. There are few antivenoms available for Australian spider bites.

Venom and Antivenom

Find out here how antivenom is made and how it works, and find out about the nature of venom and its effects.

First Aid for Spider Bite

The appropriate first aid for spider bite depends on the type of spider responsible.

Bites from funnel web spiders and mouse spiders should be considered as potentially very serious, and require different first aid to that appropriate for the bite of redbacks, cupboard spiders, white-tailed spiders, etc.

Funnelwebs and mouse spiders are all very solid in appearance and individuals are black over most of their body. The spider shown at right is a typical example of the appearance of spiders in this group.

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