THE shock death of a young Tamworth man from a suspected brown snake has prompted experts to re-issue advice on snake bites.
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The 24-year-old was trying to save his pet dog from the Eastern brown snake in the backyard of his Cole Road house in Tamworth on January 10 when he was bitten on the finger.
He died within an hour.
With hot, dry conditions prevailing for the next few days, experts have re-issued calls for residents to learn the basic life support of CPR and what to do if you are bitten by a snake.
The regions leading clinical toxicologist with Hunter New England Health and the University of Newcastle, Professor Geoff Isbister, says increasing your chance of surviving a snake bite comes down to these important steps.
Keep still, Dr Isbister said.
Put a pressure bandage on, applying direct pressure over the bite site and then cover the rest of the limb.
The pressure needs to be the same as a sprained ankle.
Keeping still is most important.
Call an ambulance. Get to a hospital as soon as possible.
Dr Isbister advised against using a belt as a tight tourniquet, and if you dont have a pressure bandage handy, an item of clothing is better than nothing.
It should be done straight away, Dr Isbister said.
Unless youre remote, a hospital should be within an hour or so.
Always seek emergency advice irrespective if how you feel.
Dr Isbister confirmed most snake bite-related deaths in Australia were actually caused by the person going into cardiac arrest, while one-third of deaths were from bleeding into the brain.
Treatment is basic life support, like CPR he said.
Thats potentially the most important.
Prevention is important as well.
Most Australian snakes have short fangs.
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A brown snake has shorter fangs than a funnel web spider.
If you wear jeans or boots, you cant really get bitten by a snake.
If anyone sees a snake, keep still, move away slowly or call someone else.
Handling snakes should only be done by the experts.
Its a statewide recommendation that all hospitals with a permanent doctor carry an anti-venom.
St John Ambulance volunteers are now urging locals to learn the life-saving skill of CPR this snake season.
CPR is a very important skill, not only for snake bites, but for anyone who suffers a cardiac arrest, St John Ambulance event commander Peter Cameron said.
The chance of surviving a snake bite dramatically increases if you do CPR.
The St John Ambulance Tamworth branch runs CPR courses monthly.
To find out more, phone 1300 360 455.
