Essential First Aid Steps and Safety Measures for Snake Bites on Farms

When it comes to an emergency in agriculture and in general, having the right training and knowledge for a quick first-aid response can save lives.

When the warmer seasons see a spike in temperature, it is important to educate your workers as part of their health and safety practices.

Discuss what to do if anyone is bitten by a snake. Discuss where snake bites commonly occur. Discuss the importance of identifying deadly snakes.

The Royal Flying Doctors Service (RFDS) has estimated that there are around 3,000 snake bites in Australia every year. Recent figures record 550 hospitalisations due to snake bites each year. Recent figures record two deaths due to snake bites each year.

According to both the RFDS and the Australian Snakebite Project, in attacks where the snake was positively identified, the brown snake was the most common biter at 41 percent. The tiger snake followed at 17 percent. The red-bellied black snake accounted for 16 percent. Three-quarters of the people bitten by snakes are males aged in their 30s. This is a common demographic among Australian farmers.

The RFDS recorded that 57 percent of snake bites actually occur near houses. Half of all bites occurred while people were out walking. Gardening formed one of the most common other scenarios. Trying to catch a snake formed another of the most common other scenarios.

Snakes will often be close to farmhouses and buildings in search of water. Snakes will often be close to farmhouses and buildings in search of mice. Maintaining a clean yard area helps lessen the attraction for snakes. Keeping water sources located in set areas helps lessen the attraction for snakes. Removing attractions for rodents helps lessen the attraction for snakes. Maintaining vegetation levels helps lessen the attraction for snakes. This type of yard maintenance also reduces fire fuel loads in peak fire seasons.

More than 90 percent of snakebites happen on the upper or lower limbs. Ensuring you have adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) can provide protection. Correct footwear provides protection. Long pants provide protection. Long sleeves provide protection. Gloves provide protection while working outside.

Adequate first aid training can be critical to survival. Knowledge of what to do in all emergencies can be critical to survival. Knowledge of what to do in a snake bite emergency can be critical to survival. These elements should form part of your farm safety policies. These elements should form part of regular training refresher modules for staff. Staff should be well-informed of first aid kit locations. Staff should be well-informed of emergency contact details.

The bites are often painless. The bites may go unnoticed. There may only be light lacerations. There may only be scratches. There may only be light bruising along with some bleeding or swelling. Common symptoms include an unexplained collapse. Common symptoms include vomiting. Common symptoms include abdominal pain. Common symptoms include bleeding. Common symptoms include paralysis.

Did you know there are two different types of snake bites?

The Dry Bite

Dry bites can be painful. Dry bites can cause swelling. Dry bites can cause redness. The bite itself is dry as the snake does not release venom. You cannot always tell which type of snake bite a person has suffered. You should always seek medical attention.

The Venomous bite

A venomous bite is where the snake releases venom containing poison into a wound. This poison is used to stun the victim. This poison is used to numb the victim. This poison is used to kill the victim. Venomous bites will also result in swelling. Venomous bites will also result in redness. Venomous bites will also result in nausea. Venomous bites will also result in blurred vision. Venomous bites will also result in irregular heartbeat. Venomous bites will also result in breathing difficulty. Venomous bites will also result in a number of other symptoms.

It is essential to act quickly after a snake bite.

Here are the top 6 do’s and don’ts if you are bitten by a snake:

1. Do seek medical help immediately as the venom can cause severe damage to health or even death within a few hours.

2. Do NOT allow the victim to walk or move their limbs. Use a splint or sling to minimise all limb movement. Put the patient on a stretcher or bring transportation to the patient.

3. Do NOT incise or cut the bite or apply a high tourniquet. Cutting or incising the bite will not help. High tourniquets are ineffective. High tourniquets can be fatal if released. High tourniquets can result in loss of limb.

4. Do bandage firmly, splint and immobilise to stop the spread of venom. To slow the spread of venom, major medical associations recommend placing a folded pad over the bite area. Then apply a firm bandage to wrap the entire limb, from bottom to top. It should not stop blood flow to the limb. It should not congest the veins. Only remove the bandage in a medical facility, as the release of pressure will cause a rapid flow of venom through the bloodstream.

5. Do NOT wash the area of the bite or try to suck out the venom. It is extremely important to retain traces of venom for use with venom identification kits.

6. Do NOT attempt to catch or kill the snake. Recent advances in medication mean that snakebites can be treated with a generic polyvalent anti-venom. You do not need to stay in the area to identify the colour and type of snake.

Once initial first aid has been applied in any situation, medical attention should be sought immediately. When it comes to emergencies, empowered agricultural employees are safe employees.

Farm environments create regular opportunities for encounters with snakes. Warm weather increases snake activity as the animals seek food and water. Buildings and yards that provide shelter or rodent populations attract snakes into closer proximity to people.

Yard maintenance practices reduce these attractions. Clearing debris removes potential hiding places. Controlling rodent numbers reduces the food supply that draws snakes. Managing vegetation keeps grass and undergrowth low and limits cover. Positioning water sources away from high-traffic areas further decreases the likelihood of unexpected meetings.

Personal protective equipment forms a practical barrier. Sturdy boots protect the feet and ankles. Long trousers and long sleeves cover the skin of the legs and arms. Gloves shield the hands during tasks that involve reaching into vegetation or moving materials. Consistent use of this equipment lowers the chance of a bite occurring on the limbs, where the majority of incidents take place.

Training programs equip workers with clear response steps. Regular refreshers keep the sequence of actions familiar. Knowing the exact location of first-aid kits removes delay in an emergency. Having emergency contact numbers readily available supports rapid communication with medical services.

Recognition of symptoms supports timely action. An unexplained collapse can indicate envenomation. Vomiting and abdominal pain frequently accompany systemic effects. Visible bleeding or the onset of paralysis signal the need for immediate professional care. Even when the bite itself produces little pain, these signs warrant urgent response.

Dry bites inject no venom yet still produce local pain, swelling and redness. Venomous bites introduce toxins that affect multiple body systems. Because visual inspection cannot reliably distinguish the two, every bite receives the same initial first-aid treatment and prompt medical assessment.

The pressure-immobilisation technique remains the recommended method for slowing venom movement. A pad placed directly over the bite site followed by a firm bandage applied from the extremity toward the body restricts lymphatic flow. A splint or sling keeps the limb still. The patient stays as motionless as possible until professional help arrives. Transport comes to the patient rather than the reverse.

Avoiding cuts, high tourniquets, washing or suction preserves both the patient’s condition and any residual venom needed for identification. Remaining clear of the snake prevents additional bites and allows responders to focus on care.

These procedures form a complete initial response. Once the bandage and immobilisation are in place, rapid transfer to medical care allows administration of antivenom when required and ongoing monitoring of the patient’s condition. Consistent training and clear protocols turn knowledge into effective action across the agricultural workforce.