Is there a snake in your camp? - Don't get bitten!

It is summer here in Australia and I really don't like getting out in the heat and the sun too much these days, but a photo memory came up on my Facebook page the other day which was a timely reminder that this is the time of year when snakes are out and about. 

A conversation with Bob Cooper, Australian Desert Survival Expert

Way back in 2013 I interviewed Bob Cooper, considered to be one of Australia’s leading desert survival experts and snake handling instructors, for an article about snake awareness for Go Camping magazine. I had interviewed him before about his Outback Survival book and kit, also for Go Camping magazine. Bob was generous with his time and expertise and I thoroughly enjoyed talking with him. 

 So when Bob invited me to come out to his property and interview him about snake awareness, I was very happy to do so, though I must say this highly venomous King Brown snake was a little too close for comfort as it came slithering towards me. I instantly did
 what Bob had told me not to do only an hour earlier—instead of moving back slowly and remaining calm, I jumped back quickly. I should have trusted that this expert snake handler had the situation, and the snake, under control.

Bob's snake handling equipment

King Browns are one of Australia's 10 most venomous snakes and my reaction was a learned response to be wary of snakes, but may have been my undoing in an uncontrolled environment. There are 170 species of snake in Australia of which only 30 have life-threatening venom, but Bob stresses that we should consider all snakes potentially dangerous and just ‘don’t get bitten’.

Bob Cooper's fascination for reptiles started around Perth’s Swan River wetlands and from watching famed Australian conservationist and bushman Harry Butler on television. In his late teens. Bob was known as a snake catcher in his local area. 

Bob says that reptiles are highly intelligent creatures and should be respected not destroyed.  He believes that during the past forty years there has been a positive change in people’s attitude towards snakes but, unfortunately, due to lack of education, many people still believe that a good snake is a dead snake, particularly in Western Australia.

We have seen our fair share of snakes when we have been out bushwalking and camping. We even had one slither through our camp on the Oodnadatta Track in South Australia. I felt he was a little too close for comfort as I didn't know if he was still lurking in the long grass. .

If you are bushwalking or camping in Australia, you are likely to come across a snake or you might even find one in your backyard. So, what are the facts and fallacies surrounding snakes? What should we do when we encounter one? And what first aid should be applied if someone gets bitten?

Western King Brown

Facts and Fallacies

• ·      Snakes don’t always feel you coming through vibrations. They usually respond by seeing movement and move away.

•     Snakes will not attack humans. But they will defend themselves if harassed/threatened. Their defensive reaction is their way of protecting themselves.  

•      Snakes don’t bite things that don’t move; don’t move fast; or aren’t food.   If you come across a snake, move slowly away so you don’t scare it. If you move fast or aggressively they do not know your intention and are likely to defend themselves.

•      There are no physical features that determine whether a snake is venomous or not. Snakes cannot interbreed, but there can be colour and pattern variations within species, so it is difficult for amateurs to identify them accurately. 

•     Snakes in aviaries are not after the birds or eggs, they are hunting mice. In snake-prone areas, do not have the aviary on your veranda or a poultry pen close to the house.

Death Adder hiding in leaf litter

 

So what precautions should you consider when hiking or camping?

• ·       Include 3 x 10 cm-wide stretch compression bandages in your emergency/first aid kit. These can be used for all snake bites in Australia as well as funnel web spider, sea snake and blue ringed octopus bites and cone shell stings.

• ·       Wear closed-in ankle-high boots, long trousers or gaiters. An Australian snake’s fangs are only short and cannot penetrate the thickness of a boot and sock.

• ·       When walking through undergrowth, use a long stick to poke the vegetation in front of you so snakes can get out of the way.

• ·       Be observant and look where you are walking. Snakes often lay on tracks to absorb heat from the sun.

• ·       Select an open campsite away from watercourses or rock outcrops. Rock outcrops and dead wood are ‘apartment blocks’ for snakes. Look for snake trails across your planned campsite.

• ·       Do not throw rubbish on the ground. Food scraps, liquid waste and even toothpaste and soap attract insects, which attract small animals, which attract snakes. (I think the snake at our camp in South Australia were attracted to the bush mice that came out to forage in the evening from the long grass near our camp)

• ·       Zip-up your tent and keep things off the ground.

 What First Aid should you administer in the case of a snake bite? 

 Bob says everyone should learn how to treat a snake bite. Snake venom may severely damage kidneys and liver and can cause respiratory failure. Antivenin can also have lasting side effects.

Immediately apply compression and immobilisation - 
- click here for downloadable Snake Bite Fact Sheet

• ·       Treat all venomous snake bites as a medical emergency. It can take 30 minutes or more for symptoms to appear. Start first aid immediately and call for an ambulance or transport the victim to a medical facility ASAP. First aid will slow down the venom rate into the bloodstream, greatly lessening the effect and buying them time to reach a hospital.

• ·        Ninety percent of bites don’t require antivenin, but they do require immediate first aid.

• ·       Do not wash a snake bite. The venom on the wound will help professionals use a venom detection kit to identify the snake.

• ·       Do not suck on the bite site. You could absorb the venom, particularly if you have a mouth sore or tooth cavity.

• ·       Do not apply a tourniquet.

• ·       Immediately apply the elastic bandage at the same pressure you would a sprain. Bandage the entire limb up to the armpit or groin area to reduce the venom flow to a trickle. No-one has died in Australia once a compression bandage has been applied.

• ·      Don’t apply ice, elevate the limb or lay the person down, unless they are about to faint.

• ·       Don’t waste time trying to catch the snake.

• ·       Completely immobilise the limb and minimise movement. Don’t let the victim walk on a bitten leg: either carry them or have transport come to them.

• ·       Remember: get the patient to a hospital as quickly as possible, preferably by ambulance. In Australia call 000.

• ·        If you are in a remote area with no phone reception, drive to the nearest road-house (fuel stop, garage) and ask them to contact Australian Royal Flying Doctor Service.

• ·       ‘Practise before reality bites’. Don’t let the first time you treat a snake bite be the first time you have used a compression bandage. 

The most dangerous snake is the one that has hold of your leg

 A snake will not bite you without feeling threatened or provoked, but don’t ever put yourself in a position where you may get bitten. Treat snakes respectfully and they will keep out of your way. 

After talking to Bob Cooper I’m not going to train to become a qualified snake handler, but I feel a lot more confident about what to do if I encounter one when we’re camping or bushwalking.

As Bob reiterates, ‘Do not take chances and do not get bitten. Treat all snakes as venomous and all snake bites as a medical emergency. Remember, the most dangerous snake in Australia is the one that has hold of your leg!’

Our latest snake encounter - a Tiger Snake in our Great Southern

 Please note: I am not an expert. Please refer to reputable websites or emergency agencies. 

More information

·       In the case of snake bite in Australia ring 000.

·       Do not attempt to catch a snake without proper training. If you have a snake in your backyard, call Wildcare Helpline (08) 9474 9055 in Western Australia or National Parks and Wildlife Services in other states or your local council.

·      First aid training, kits and facts sheets: St John Ambulance

·      
  Techniques and equipment for reptile rescue, not only in Australia but overseas, have changed over time and Bob Cooper has developed a training course and specialised equipment for successful snake rescue, handling and relocation.

 For more information visit:  Bob Cooper's Snake Rescue and Relocaiton Training

Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you have learnt something from my blog post today, which is a little different to my usual posts. Have you ever encountered a snake in our travels? 

You might also like:
 Camp food - exploring Western Australian granite rocks
The Oodnadatta Track, South Australia
Kennedy Ranges, Western Australia

I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 


I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

   
All Seasons
Mosaic Monday 

Our World Tuesday

Pictorial Tuesday 

Through My Lens 

Image-in-ing 
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global  
Travel Photo Thursday 

The Lovin' Life Team over at Deep Fried Fruit
Little Things Thursday 

Sky Watch Friday

Life in Reflection

Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can
comment too! I would love to hear from you.

You can also link up to Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global right here!