How To Deal With Snake Bites When Traveling In The Desert In Australia [ Top 6 important steps ]

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Nearly 4000 snakebite cases are reported in Australia yearly. It is never a pleasing experience to be bitten by a snake. So do you have to wait to get bitten to know what to do?

It is much more convenient to call an ambulance when you are in the comfort of your home or at work, and you get bitten by a snake. But how long will it take for an ambulance to get to you if you were on a road trip or camping somewhere far away from town in a desert and you, or your friend, or family member gets bitten by a snake? Knowing what to do is important in this case.

Snake bites are not only limited to desert areas; land snakes come out of hiding all over Australia as the heat intensifies. Snakes in Australia should not be taken for granted especially the ones found in the desert as over 100 different kinds of snakes are venomous in Australia, out of which a handful can lead to death!

Are you a fan of adventures and love to go camping?
There are various things you might need to prepare against or prepare for in case of any eventuality. Have you thought about preparing against or handling a snake bite case when you go camping? No one prepares for war when the war is imminent, you prepare for battle beforehand, handling snakes needs prior preparation.

There are rules you need to wrap your head around when it comes to handling snake bites in the desert. Here are six of them:

  • Be able to call for help: Call triple-0 they will get help to you as soon as possible: however, this may be difficult in remote areas where there is no or limited signal to make the call. Electric Bug can help with this! One solution is a Cel-Fi system, which can boost limited cell signal to full strength. Sometimes however, you may be so remote that there is no signal at all. In this case, it is advisable to go camping with a satellite phone. Satellite phones can reach where mobile phones can’t. Satellite phones don’t rely on carrier networks to work; they rely on satellites orbiting the earth. Electric Bug has Satellite phones, Cel-Fi Systems, and even Emergency Beacons for sale or hire.
  • In the event of a snake bite while camping, keeping calm, and not trying to move is a significant key to stop the spread of the venom. Stay put.
  • Also, avoid trying to wash off the bite area as the venom or snake type can be identified through the remnants of venom left of your skin when help arrives.
  • Apply compression bandage if handy. See this Red Cross article for info on correct bandaging.
  • Make sure to mark the bite spot so doctors can identify it.
  • Do everything necessary to slow the spread of the venom like not elevating the limb above the heart.

It is possible to get bitten by a snake while journeying on  four wheels. Snakes can crawl into the car when you stop to stretch your legs or grab something from a store. To avoid snake bites in your vehicle;

  • Never leave your car window wound down, even if you are only away from your vehicle for a moment, always lock up properly.
  • Inspect your vehicle before you enter, these reptiles are quiet and move quickly and may crawl into your car when you are unaware of it.

Always taking prevention measures is better than finding a cure.