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First Aid Information: Scorpion

No Australian species of scorpion are known to be particularly dangerous, although all possess a venomous sting.

In painful cases of envenomation, the application of ice-packs may reduce pain. Analgesia or topical anaesthetic agents may be required in extreme cases.

First Aid Information: Snakebite (all land and sea snakes)

Phone or send for medical assistance.

Reassure the patient and encourage them to remain calm.

Have the patient remain as still as possible. Do not attempt to catch or kill the snake.

Apply a pressure bandage to the envenomed limb (see below). If the bite is to the trunk, apply firm pressure to the bitten area. Do no restrict chest movement.

Splint or sling the limb to restrict movement. Where possible, help should be brought to the patient rather than moving the patient.

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.

Pressure Immobilisation Bandaging (PIB) : Applying a pressure immobilisation bandage

 

Immediately: If others are present, have someone phone for medical assistance. If unable to phone, send someone for help.

Reassure the patient and encourage them to remain calm and still.

First Aid: Pressure-Immobilisation Bandaging Movie

70 seconds, windows movie player (7MB) or mpeg (14M) format

Download mpeg Here

First Aid Information: Blue-Ringed Octopus

Phone or send for medical assistance.

Reassure the patient and encourage them to remain calm and still.

Pressure-immobilisation first aid is recommended for blue-ringed octopus envenomation.

The patient may be completely paralysed and unable to respond, sometimes with fixed dilated pupils, but may still be completely aware of their surroundings.

Artificial respiration may be required following a bite.

There is no blue-ringed octopus antivenom available.

Applying a pressure immobilisation bandage

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