First Aid

"Pressure Immobilisation" - used for some bites and stings

If you get a snakebite on your leg -

1. Put a wide firm bandage around the bitten area (if a bandage is not available, use strips of clothing as a bandage).

Don't take off any clothes (e.g jeans). Cut the seams if they can't be pushed out of the way.

Keep the leg as still as possible while you are bandaging the victim.

2. Bandage from the bite to the toes, then upwards to cover as much of the leg as possible.

3. Make the bandage as tight as possible without cutting off the blood supply.

4. Attach a splint (eg a flat piece of timber) to the leg using a second bandage.

5. Do not allow the person to stand or walk. Get an ambulance for the person.

Move the person only if medical help will take longer than two hours to come.

Prolonged artificial respiration may be required following a bite or sting.