Treating Snake Bite

This website is no longer actively updated.
It has been left as a reference point only.

Treating Snake Bite

In Australia there are about 3,000 snake bites per year, of which 200 to 500 receive anti-venom; on average one or two will prove fatal. About half the deaths are due to bites from the brown snake; the rest mostly from tiger snake, taipan and death adder. Some deaths are sudden, however in fact it is uncommon to die within four hours of a snake bite.

Struan Sutherland's 'Death from snake bite in Australia, 1981-1991' (The Medical Journal of Australia, December 1991, Volume 7, pages 740-46) contains some graphic descriptions of the 18 known fatal snake bites in that ten year period.

In 1906, the untreated death rates were as high as 40% to 50% for death adder and tiger snake bites! Improved supportive treatment and the availability of effective anti-venoms has reduced this considerably. The site put up by the University of Sydney is very comprehensive and essential reading for all campers. Lots of information on snake identification including good quality photos.

Bob Eustace