Snake Bites

[Mother Duck]

A very long post I am sorry but if this helps just one other person - well it is worth the typing!

We have just had a horrible experience during which our toddler was bitten by a brown snake (thankfully she is OK) - I wouldn't wish this on anyone - however - I am posting here just to let you all know what I think in hindsight of 'what to do'

What happened - Qld country town, house in town backed by rural paddocks etc - having a picnic on a rug in the yard (short grass area) - 12wk old in the pram 2yo leaning on a zoo pillow on the rug and mum sitting legs in front on the rug also

I look down and think - whats that - oh its a snake (under my legs) - my mind assesses the danger (size of snake, type of snake, has toddler seen it etc *all of this is on auto - it just happens) - ok its a large juvenile brown (not a big adult) - she hasn't seen it - if we sit very still it will just go on its merry way -

"mummy wants you to stay very still honey - don't move - stay very still" (urgency in voice but more like a game than a command) - this works perfectly for a while but I am starting to wonder how long it will last before she gets restless etc - the snake hasn't gone anywhere - it seems very content under my legs -

"OK honey - we are going to play 'flip' - *playful voice big smiles" - I grab under her legs and summersault her as far as I can away thinking she will just roll and get up - this works perfectly too - she stands up laughing well clear of the blanket and behind the zoo pillow - snake still under me

"Now stay very still" *more of a game tone in the voice and a big smile* - yep still working she thinks we are playing -

I plan to get up and go the other way thinking the snake will follow me or just go - I get up - the snake goes (so blasted fast I hardly see it move)

Suddenly she is saying "nake, nake" and hitting her leg - the damn thing has gone straight for her and straight up her trouser leg - all I can see is its back half and tail out of her trousers - from her movements I'd say it has bitten her

I grab her and shake the snake out (had the phone with me) grab the pram and get away as quick as I can - both dogs and the cat have gone after the snake so I can see it is behind me - I dial 000 - get her trousers off and look for a mark

I can see two small marks and some light grazing - one on her shin and one on the upper calf muscle - I try to keep her still and try to use her trousers to bandage her leg - "nake mummy, nake, nake" she keeps saying - she just wants me to hold her so I can't keep the trousers around her leg - we have got 3 snake bite kits (a bandage and a sling) but they are upstairs and I can't get to them

I just try to keep her calm and still

ambulance arrives - they find the site and bandage up the leg - apply a torniquet lay me down on the stretcher and her on me - off to hospital


Medical Stuff - too hard to explain it all - if anyone needs to know anything specific pm me - in short - monitor obs - take sample from site - test comes up positive for brown - try to get canular in so anti-venine can be administered - can't get the vein - monitoring very carefully - helicopter on its way - mild reaction happening - appropriate medication given to avoid 'system and respiratory shut down' - we are told there is a window of 7 hours to get the anti-venine in when wound has been bound and limb immobilised quickly

Helicopter takes her to RCH in Bris - 'team' of Drs and staff are AMAZING - tests are taken and she is found to be clear of venom in her blood (DH and I think it couldn't pull its head back enough to strike properly under her trousers) so it was just a 'surface' wound - not a deep bite - no anti-venine was needed - torniquet taken off and bubs left for obs after this as the venom can be pooled in the site waiting to go into the body - more blood tests show no venom

all clear the next day to come home - a very tired but very grateful family - a very tired but well toddler

The team at RCH are AMAZING - their care of our baby was AMAZING - their knowledge, response, and care AMAZING

The team at our local hospie were really good with the resources they had - as individulas they were great but I can't understand why they are not given more expert training and resources for this situation - this is where the snakes are !!!

So what would I do next time? - DH assures me there is no way to be ready as each time could be different - I am really happy with how I approached it but I do feel I will know more next time

this is what you need to know (in my opinion)

Remove from danger
Don't worry too much about ID - the hospital has kits to ID type of snake - don't try and catch it
Contact ambulance if possible
Calm child
Find bite site (roughly)
KEEP SNAKE KIT OUTSIDE, INSIDE, IN THE CAR (a long bandage and a sling)
Bandage from top of limb down over bite area to foot and back up again - IMMOBILSE the limb - with sticks - whatever using sling bandage folded over and over (from triangle) - keep child STILL as you can and calm as you can


Be calm yourself - if help is coming to you lay down and lay bubs on you to keep them still

snake training - we have avoided having toy lookalike snakes around as DH thought they would desensitise our bubs to the real thing - definately think this is right - BUT I plan to get a pretend one now and put it in the garden - I am going to play around the area and then spot it "look - snake" to practice our drill mainly but also so she is not terrifyed but feels she can be in control

Obviously she (and we) will always be scared but if it happens again panick just won't help

Love Jess

[Mother Duck]

Please don't tell me I am brave etc - I am NOT - I am a chicken - you just do what you have to do as a mother, father, carer

Then later it hits you like a tonn of bricks

Sickening really

But rest assured - whatever I did YOU can do - just mentally train yourself

And stay calm!

[Foxy]

So glad you are all ok!


PS. you are very brave!

[pookiesossige]

OMG!! :eek: :eek:
I grew up in rural vic and had no idea about what to do in case of snake bite :no: which is so not on. I'm living on the fringe of town and there are certainly snakes waking up for summer near us, so thank you so much, Jessie, for sharing- hopefully others have had a good wake-up call, like I have...

[Melo]

Goodness me Jessie, how very scary!

I understand where your coming from:
Please don't tell me I am brave etc - I am NOT - I am a chicken - you just do what you have to do as a mother, father, carer It probably would be your instincts kicking in, doing whats best for your child. But your remained incredibly calm and you are one brave Supermum!

:)

[Chickadee]

Wow Jess. I'm not sure I could have stayed as calm as you. That was very quick and good thinking about making it a game to get your DD away and to stay still. Is a game of 'statues' something that you'll include in your snake training drill?

This is also a good chance to remind everyone that first aid training is a really good idea when you have kids. I did one that was specific for treating infants and children (child size CPR dolls etc). Mine included snake bite response but it was over 2 years ago and I'm not sure I'd have gotten it right. Time for a refresher!

[*Chels*]

WOW!thank you for such an informative post!!
I think you are VERY brave!I hope Im never in that situation,but if I am,I hope I remain as level headed as you!
IM GLAD YOURE BABIES ARE SAFE!

[Pixie]

Well I love snakes but know how dangerous they can be, well done, thank goodness your daughter is safe I had a brown snake at my feet once on a bush walk little scary half way up a mountain!

Great info and good on the ambo's!!

[Elfin]

Jessie I am just so happy your precious babies are ok now. I think you did an amazing job handling such an awful situation. I don't think I would of held it together as well as you. Thank you for sharing that information with us. Snakes are such a reality in this country and we should all know how to do first aid with bites.

[lukaelmo]

Cripes Jessie, I don't know what to say... I am so glad your precious little girl is okay as are you and your little man...

[Briannabear]

:hugs: Oh my gosh that is so damn scary. So pleased to hear she is ok. :eek:

[Mother Duck]

Wow Jess. I'm not sure I could have stayed as calm as you. That was very quick and good thinking about making it a game to get your DD away and to stay still. Is a game of 'statues' something that you'll include in your snake training drill?

YES!!!!

Statues WILL be on the agenda

I have done oodles of first aid training in the mines but...
It is so different when it is a toddler

And yes Pixie - I also love snakes (believe it or not) they are an amazing creature - but SO fast and SO dangerous - much more dangerous than spiders in my opinion - they are so quick

Anyway I really have to go for now - should be back online sunday - M's Nanna and Poppy really want to see her (obviously) so we are off to Gayndah

:wave:

[angcaltam]

Thanks for the info.

I'm so glad you are all ok.

And I don't care what you say, you are very brave.:yes: :thumbsup: :yes: :thumbsup: I seriously think that I would just go into panic mode.

[Tea Lady]

So glad you're all ok Jess :eek: Good job you had the phone with you!

[tickle]

Jessie, I know what it feels like when you are on 'auto pilot' just trying to get away as safe as you can. You did so well.:hugs:
We had two snakes in the house last year and I am really dreading those long hot summer days. Call me crazy but at the moment I'm too afraid to leave the back door open as I'm so worried one might somehow squeeze through the screen. I've seriously been considering moving.:o
Anyway, what happened with you guys has definately reminder a lot of us of what we do need to do. I'm so glad M is safe and sound.:hugs:

[draught]

Jessie
Knowing all the details of the story now has brought tears to my eyes - I am so glad that you are the woman you are and knew what to do. Thank you for sharing with us - it is important information for all of us to think about so that we know what to do if something similar happens to us.

Again - many cuddles coming your way for the whole family from all of us.
T

[jamb]

We live in a snake area and YOU have made me go and organise my bandages and splint to be handy, not on top of the bloody laundry cupboard which i cant reach :shame: . So big thanks to you, glad all turned out okay.

[SassyMummy]

That chilled me to the bone. How unprepared have i been?

Mind you, I have never ever seen a snake near my place...but there's surely SOME lurking around here.

Thanks for that, you've wisened me up, that's for sure.

You must have been so scared...thank you so much for sharing!

[misskittyfantastico]

Jessie you are so wonderful to take the time to share this information with everyone:hugs:

Living in the bush, is living with snakes....you have certainly given me some reminders and ideas.:thumbsup:

[Mariposa]

oh jess good job well done. once again glad miss m is all good. thanks for sharing with so much detail. its amazing when something happens to our babes, and we just do what we gotta do, the adrenaline just pumps thru you until you get help. then once everything comes good again, it finally hits " wow - that really happened" :hugs: for you and all!

[Funkychicken]

Sorry jessie but you ARE brave! We spot a number of snakes every summer around the farm but I have to admit that I am not up to date on first aid for snake bites. We were out bush on the W/E and a friend (adult) went into the bush to do a W** and half way through he spotted a tiger about a metre in front of him. Scary to think where it might have bitten him! So can you tell me what you keep in your snake bite kit? Although we are on a famr we are still quite close to town so i guess I am too complacent about it. Now that the children are getting older and exploring further, I am going to get onto it.
Well done again for your quick thinking and I'm so glad that there wasn't more serious damage done. :)

[Mum&bubs]

Wow Im glad to hear yous are all okay. I would have been so scared if that were me & I wouldnt be able to keep calm let alone know what to do. Well done :yelclap: and thanks for all those tips. I've always wondered what to do in case of a snake bite as snakes are my worst fear! :(

[sugar n spice]

omg i petrified of snakes. im so glad you are all ok.:hugs:

[littlepickle]

OMG, I am so glad that you and DD are ok, how scary for you both! I know you dont think it, but you are brave! I know you said its just instinct, but you managed to keep calm and think rationally mwhen a lot of people would have lost it! You were there for your dd, and were also a source of calm. I am in awe, and hope that I would be as calm if a situation ever arose that needed it.
I grew up in an area with a lot of snakes, we had quite a few king browns in our back yard, I know how quick they can move!
So glad that everything is ok now. Thank you for sharing with us:hugs:

[Areca]

Thankyou so much for telling your story. I do know the first aid side of things when it comes to snake bites but reading how you dealt with the situation was really great.
You did an amazing job!

[Mother Duck]

So can you tell me what you keep in your snake bite kit?
I think all you need is a long bandage and a sling bandage - just put them in a rain proof container and nail them on trees if need be

[Funkychicken]

I think all you need is a long bandage and a sling bandage - just put them in a rain proof container and nail them on trees if need be
Thanks Jessie, I thought maybe that was it but wanted to be sure. :thumbsup:
I hope your little one is OK and recovering from her ordeal. And I hope you have gotten past the shock of it-I'm sure you went to jelly when you felt like it was all over. :hugs:

[jaq]

Thank you so much for posting this. I grew up in the north (NT and FNQ) with taipans, blacks and browns, and have just realised how STUPID I am. No snake bite kit. No first aid training. NO BLOODY IDEA of what to do.

We now live in Victoria, on the northern outskirts of Melbourne. Lots of trees on our block. Lots of lovely places to hide in our garden. And I wouldn't have a clue what a venomous snake looks like down here. (Or spider, for that matter).

I resolve to learn. And practise. And drill.

You've helped a lot more than one person, I suspect.

Thank you.

Jaq

[Mamaduke]

Jessie Jessie Jessie...
Oh my giddy aunt!!!! :eek:
Thank God everyone is okay...
and you can just shut up and deal with the fact that you are very very very brave!!! :yes:
A snake bite, mummy turning into a super hero & a helicopter ride...
who said there's nothing to do in the country!!!;)

[rachdent]

Jess - just wanted to say thanks for this great post. I won't say you are brave but your daughter most definately is. Being a city gal in the country this is something i continually worry about. perhaps I will try your snake drill with my little men!!!

[Tannie]

Ahh........well done Jessie! And thanks for reminding me to get my act together with a kit too.......I had one when we lived in Kingaroy, but strangly ALL my medical stuff has never "appeared" since arriving here......i can only guess it "fell off the back of the truck" somewhere :thumbsdown:

I kept thinking "thank god it wasn't me doing a casual shift in Murgon..." LMAO!!! Although, I was always reading up about the "what to do's" on nightshift when I had not much to do, cause lotsa snakes around out there and growing up in Western Qld myself - had some friends who were bitten - I came close a few times too :eek:

Your account was fabulous though and am so pleased it all turned out okay.....gave me a shudder or 2 because I used to take bub#1 out the back in Kingaroy and just put her down on blanket whilst I hung out the washing (had several big shady trees..) UNTIL hb nearly trod on a BIG brown snake whilst mowing out there one day and neighbours told me there were snakes everywhere as we were between the big bushland area on top of the hill and the farmland.......so in a "corridor" for the snakes apparently!! She never went on a blanket out the back again after that!!

RCH is great eh? My nephew drowned several years ago and was airlifted there - they were simply marvelous in EVERY respect.......thankfully he came out of it fine and is now a healthy, happy 13 yr old strapping young fella. but moral of THAT story was also that he would have died if my brother and SIL didn't know CPR - cause he was "dead" when they fished him out........so if anyone reading this doens't know CPR - book yourself in to do a course - it really could be difference between life and death.

On ya Jessie - hope the rest of the year is EVENT FREE ZONE lovie :yelclap:

T

[Mother Duck]

And I hope you have gotten past the shock of it-I'm sure you went to jelly when you felt like it was all over. :hugs:
You are welcome funky - to be honest I am a long way from over the shock - it is all I can do just to go outside, and I keep thinking I see snakes out the corner of my eye - and my peripheral vision keeps blacking out - and worse than all of this I have the most horrible nauseous feeling inside that just won't go away - like feeling sick in the stomach but not just there - really feeling sick inside my heart

I guess this is just anxiety

And I am quite sure it will go away eventually

All's well that ends well!


You've helped a lot more than one person, I suspect.

Thank you.

Well then it was well worth the post!

I'm off to get some much needed :sleeping:

Thanks for all the well wishes you hubarians you!
Love J

[Amberlea]

Like a few others said Jessie - you have helped numerous mothers by telling them what to do if they have to treat a snake bite.

I was part of a poll recently where only 23% of mothers knew what to do... and I was shocked seeing as most of them came from QLD(where a large amount of snake bites come from)
(I grew up in QLD and was tauht how to treat a snake bite from age 6)

You did all you could in the situation... we should all look up to you.

[reAllytee]

Jessie - Well you already know that i think your wonderful anyways but reading about what happened in your mummies thread nearly made me faint ! Just reading your account made me burst into tears ( yes im emotionaly atm :p ) you are so brave & amazing please understand when we say it we mean it because how you handled yourself is just awesome. Me bursting into tears reading this wouldve been my reaction had it been me cause i would have freaked so much & worried that i couldnt save Boof it wouldve been too much for me.
Ive been putting off going & doing a first aid course because i hate group situations but i am now going to get my butt organised & do one !!!! Did one through high school but cant remember anything so i need to do this ! Especially as my cousin nearly drowned through the week as he was washed off rocks this too gets the message through.
We are in suburbia but when it comes down to it here in Oz we are in "their" territory whether its the city or country & we need to respect that.
Im so glad this ended up being a happy ending you did so well :hugs:

[cheezelkat]

Thankyou for posting this. I live in an area where snakes can be found, and my mums lives out in the bush and I wouldn't of had a clue of what to do.

I will be buying the bandages to keep a kit in the car and at my house if needed.

I'm so glad everything turned out OK though. In reading that I held my breath hoping everything was going to be OK!

[Amberlea]

Alyoo - I just wanted to say..
Youd be able to save Boof if you had to.. regardless of how we feel at the time - mothers instinct kicks in!
We may be petrified.. but instinct takes over and we do what we have to! whether we place ourselves at risk or not.

I urge all mums to take notice of what Jess has had to go through - as I have lived in QLD and have had snakes randomly come up to us to sunbake etc.. then turn on us... not fun!!
Make sure you know how to treat a bite etc.

[Shazbutt]

Oh Jessie, what an ordeal! :eek: I'm so glad little Mickayla is alright! :hugs:

You are brave, i don't know whether i could have been as calm and quick thinking as you (though i guess, like you said, its all automatic). I can't believe that happened, as you'd only been talking about the snakes last week! You have definitely helped alot of people on here and made us aware of what can happen (especially out here). :hugs: I hope you're all recovering now.....and having a very uneventful weekend.....

[Nickster]

Wow Jessie, I can't believe you went through all that - wow - you did really well to keep a cool head - thank goodness all is okay. Wishing you all the best for a speedy recovery for your Mickayla - oh, and no more free helicopter rides, okay?

[Funkychicken]

You are welcome funky - to be honest I am a long way from over the shock - it is all I can do just to go outside, and I keep thinking I see snakes out the corner of my eye - and my peripheral vision keeps blacking out - and worse than all of this I have the most horrible nauseous feeling inside that just won't go away - like feeling sick in the stomach but not just there - really feeling sick inside my heart

I guess this is just anxiety

And I am quite sure it will go away eventually


:hugs: Oh you poor thing. Until I read this post I hadn't even thought about the post- incident anxiety you must have. I'm still at the scene in my mind! As soon as I read it, I realised that when we have been through an ordeal such as this, it takes a long time to start to relax and let go a bit. i'm guessing there are no words that can help this process along-it's more of a time thing.
I was wondering also, do you keep cats? I have worked a few properties where cats are a big part of the decor due to their abilities to repel snakes. Snakes seem to stay clear as they are the prey of cats. We had a few cats at each of the houses. Just a thought. :hugs:

[Funkychicken]

Oh and I just remembered also. Another tip I know of is to NOT keep water around the outside of the house-buckets or dripping taps etc... as they will come into your yard to drink. :thumbsup:

[Mother Duck]

Hi again guys

Allyoo - yes I am tearing up AGAIN just in reading that you are!!

Funky - yes we have a cat and several dogs but it was just so sneaky none of them saw it arrive (neither did I)

I was busy watching the edge of the blanket for invading ants not a blasted snake! And I still didn't see it arrive - just looked down to see it under me - took a minute to register actually!

Both dogs and the cat went for it 'after'!

They come in from the back - I would need an army of cats!!

The water is tricky as our dogs need water and so do the horses

[draught]

A reminder that this isn't just info for "bush" families - amy girlfriend who lives in suburbia here in Brisbane - with no grass in their yard, just paving, found a snake in their vegie patch during the week - now it was a green snake but as she says - if it liked her non-green garden what else will! (I am sending her this info at her request to help with her preparation for "next time"). She is having a similar reaction to her kids being outside as you Jess, although they went through none of the trauma!