Thank you so much for this video! We live on acreage, have poultry and live beside a creek, so every season we often come into close contact with browns and red belly blacks. I recently undertook first aid training and I was really focused on learning snake bite procedures. I have two sons, 10 and 13, who love to explore our property. The course I attended pretty much gave me a book to read and spoke for half an hour but didn't offer the hands on, practical experience of actually wrapping a bite. I attend first aid courses every year and I feel that I have learnt more from this video then I ever have from a first aid course. Very much appreciated. Thank you for helping me keep my family safe in our beautiful, bushland paradise.
Thanks so much for the positive feedback, that is great to hear and much appreciated. Please feel free to share this video with other people you feel would benefit from it.
Flashback to 1997... My father and his friend, who were in their late 50s, were driving down a country road, discussing a timber post fence on a property they'd passed. They were arguing over whether it was sawn or cut with an axe, as you do, I guess. Anyway, they chucked a Uey and pulled up into an access track and gate. As dad stepped out of the driver's side, a small Eastern Brown shot put from under a saltbush and hit him twice on the ankle. Shorts and thongs because they'd been fishing on a beach. They immediately applied a pressure bandage, and his mate drove them back to the house, a few kilometres, so he could call an ambulance and meet them. They were about an hour from the nearest city with a hospital. They met the ambulance halfway, and the ambos examined the bandage and splint. It was fine, so they transferred him to the ambulance and raced towards Gladstone Hospital. When they arrived, dad was still fine and had no symptoms of envenomation. Unfortunately, a trainee nurse attended to him. She removed the compression bandage, swabbed the site...and left. Fifteen minutes later, and having seen no one else, dad started to feel a bit crook, as they say. In the end, due to that first mistake by the nurse, and then a series of other incompetent mistakes, my father died two weeks later. This video, and others by St John Ambulance etc. should be compulsory viewing for all Australian residents, and those visiting with an eye to venture into the bush. I have full respect for, and am quite fond of our Aussie snakes, but I'm so naive to think that I won't get bitten as a result of complacency. So I ALWAYS carry at least a compression bandage, even if walking in a suburban nature park. It should be second nature for all Aussies, as well as the ability to swim and know about coastal rips...oh, and Crocodile awareness in the applicable areas. Sorry for the long story. I'm kinda passionate about the bush and the respect it deserves.
As a long time bushman of some years now (at 51 the beard is now silver!), i want to extend my thanks for your thorough nonsense free coverage of this important topic mate. Having spent an extended time in the Namibian desert with the San bushmen i remember the feeling of vulnerability to snakebite due to the remote location. Clear planning, top notch kit and a disciplined approach to effective treatment are key. Awesome work. I am locked into my new home of New Zealand as we speak but as soon as Covid allows travel i reckon a stint in Aussie is on the cards. I should look you up for a course, be good to have a yarn by the fire. Top marks.
Thanks for the feedback. Namibia is a beautiful place and I was there briefly a couple of years ago but unfortunately did not get to spend time with the sand bushman. What an honour that would have been. Yes we have some dangerous snakes here in Oz, but if you know about them, respect them and prepare accordingly you rarely see them. NZ is snake free so you don't have to worry about anything. Thanks for watching.
Great info Gordon. Thanks for all the detail. Pity about that wind. I wonder if you could have run a noise filter over the audio in your editing software to clean it up a little. Might be something to try next time. I think we need to get a GoFundMe page set up to get you some money to buy a couple of wireless mics. The way you frame your shots (which is lovely) the audio on the camera does usually struggle. Love the videos, keep up the good work.
You nailed it Gordon, 'Marvellous!' Absolutely superb information, Chris, I would shout you beers for the night as a thank you if we ever met in person. Such good quality information on this channel, its a crying shame you don't have a quarter of a mil subscribers.
Thanks for the positive feedback. It’s super important that you always have some form of first aid kit with you with decent snakebite bandages, especially when venturing into back country areas.
Thanks for this - very informative and a must watch for any Aussie. I love finding remote bush away from Sydney, but I must admit that several very near misses with aggro eastern browns (including being struck on the boot) has created a certain anxiety towards these beasties. Having a PLB also adds another layer of protection if you are remote when you need to immobilise.
@@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia thanks Gordon, I'll check it out. Did you see I nominated you for the #showusyoursteak challenge? I hope you can include that in your videos somewhere. Cheers, David.
I was out the back of Townsville a few weeks back , sitting on a log , enjoying a cuppa in the scrub when I heard some rustling . I Turned around and a eastern brown was just behind me . I was wearing my snake gators at the time , so I just casually hunted him out of camp . My large bandages are always close at hand though , just in case . Really enjoyed your vid , the more knowledge we have the better equipped we are . Thanks.
Thanks Guys , advice like this, saves lives:) So few know know how to treat a snake bite , properly . CPR , and Burns treatments , are topics worth discussing ! While on the topic of first aid . :)
Thanks for the feedback and your support. Please share this with others as many people do not know what to do. Shame the wind was so bad as it really effected the sound.
Thanks for your positive feedback. It definitely could save a life, but of course the best first aid is to observe the signs, respect and leave them alone and not get bitten in the first place... however accidents do happen.
You’re welcome, I’m glad you liked it...Chris really knows his stuff. The sound could have been better though as it was a very windy day. Thanks for watching.
Ok. Dumb question time. Is there a form of gator to wear to stop Mr Blake's fangs from puncturing my legs when i step on im ? Anaconda sell some canvas jobbies but don't think they will stop bites.
Crikey didn’t know there was a specific snake bite kit , I’m certainly going to buy one, great video as always awesome tips on survival when out in the bush, 👍
Thanks for your feedback. There are a few different snake bandage kits out there but some are overly expensive and use cheap crepe bandages which are not sufficient, although better than nothing. Thanks for watching and your support.
So hypatetically -.I'm on a remote track, solo, day 5 of 10 day walk . -Done the first aid for the bite, I'm still calm, set off PLB but I'm in a deep gully with cliffs. No mobile signal in this track. -I'm still calm and quiet and comfortable with lightweight tarp over me. -Time has moved on, 24 hours passed, no chopper, PLB signal did not get out because of deep terrain. - Important Question.. when can I start to carry on again? Eg Priorities of Survival . - More WATER - Set up SHELTER, tent, FIRE (RESCUE SIGNAL) hyperthermia prevention + warmth and emotional security, - FOOD, cooking. (I've eaten all the scroggin and dreaded muslie bars) - How long post bite can I continue on remove the pressure bandage, any special instructions on this.? - What are the post bite signs and symptoms to watch for or manage for the next 5 day walk to car?? - PLB signal is now flat and there is still no mobile signal till I get closer to car 5 days away. #Tasmania 🤪💕
I've looked at a few snakebite kits and I didn't really get why they looked as if they just had a few bandages in them, so it's good to see it explained like this. I'll make a few changes to my FAK.
Chris Peberdy really knows his stuff and it’s always great to to work with him. We have another episode coming up in the near future on Australian snakes so stay tuned.
Guys I think this was about the best video I have seen. Not just on snake bites but ever. Entertaining and extremely informative for someone who loves going camping. Only thing but I may have missed it is if I do happen to get bitten and do all of this how long do I have to get out? Do I treat the snake as the worst possible and hit the panic button and get choppered out or keep walking?…….ps Scotty time to ditch the shorts lol
Thanks for your kind words. If unsure of the snake, treat all snake bites as a venomous bite. Timelines depend on several factors; where you were bitten, what kind of snake it was, what size etc. It's best to be prepared by wearing proper protective bush clothing and always carry a snake bite kit with decent PIM bandages. It's a hard call if you are on your own. Don't keep walking. PIM bandage, immobile the limb, call for help and keep still. You have a better chance of survival by not moving. Some Aboriginal groups were traditionally buried in the ground to stop them moving with only their head left out which someone tended to by feeding and watering them. This way the venom was spread slowly giving their bodies immune system time to fight it. Thanks for watching
That was brilliant Gordon. Can you please ask him to perhaps elaborate on walking “snake smart” in the bush too. I know some stuff but you don’t know what you don’t know. Thanks mate
It may seem like common sense, but walking “snake smart” means to a) be suitably dressed eg. closed toe shoes and socks, long pants etc... no thongs or sandles. b) being aware of where you are stepping by looking ahead and being observant...pay attention! c) if you walk heavily in the bush, snakes (with the exception of death adders...which generally hide in place) will likely hear/feel you and get out of the way. d) if you see a snake, stop, freeze and wait for it to go on it’s way which it will do if not threatened. I have seen many snakes out bush, most occur when sitting or resting quietly in the bush with no fire and them (the snake) wandering onto your position. Stay calm and allow them to continue.... remember, they don’t want anything to do with us. If he (the snake) had heard you making noise etc you would have never seen him because he would have stayed clear of your position. I have had brown snakes stand up at me on a trail in the classic “S” bend posture. I just stop and freeze and once they don’t feel threatened, they just drop and continue on their way. Hope that is of help?
Thanks for your comments and the support. Please feel free to share these videos with other like minded people to help the channel grow and introduce more people to the subject one bushcraft.
Great vid and essential information thanks for sharing I’ve been looking at snake bite kits and now I know what to get, sorry Snowys outdoors the $20 shake bite kit isn’t going to cut it.
There are a lot of "dodgy" kits out there and like many things are just gimmicks. Crepe bandages are exactly that....crap! However better than nothing! Thanks for watching..
Hello Mate ! I was in the US Navy for ten years and I've been to Oz a few times on liberty . When we were in Sydney a shipmate of mine got bitten by a spider in a hotel room bed . He wasn't able to catch or kill the spider at the time of the bite . The tiny bite on his shin grew from a small pimple to the size of an American half dollar coin by the time we got back to home port in California . The Navy Hospital in San Diego had to excise a bit of skin and flesh from his shin and make a skin graft over the wound . What kind of spider in Sydney would cause such a necrotising wound ? Thanks for your videos . Cheers !
My guess is that it was a white tailed spider who’s bite causes skin necrosis. I have also been told that this is a myth and no longer true. I have never been bitten by one but know of people that have and they have similar stories to yours. Thanks for watching and glad you enjoy the video’s.
You’re welcome. There are some snake bite kits out there with poor quality crepe bandages so having something that allows you to apply consistent pressure is great, however you have to have it with you. You have to be able to use anything at your disposal if need be. Thanks for watching.
Great topic , one thing I read in " Bush Crafts " written by Francis Kelly . Was that snakes detest the smell of ants and scattering gravel/sand from an ant nest around your swag is a deterent. Havent wanted to catch a snake and chuck it in my swag to see if it works ! But I wonder if there's much evidence to support the theory ?
That's the first time I have heard that and am not sure of its validity. I've never had a problem with snakes in any case so never really worry about them. Thanks for watching.
Awesome video! Very informative! Suppose someone got lost in the bush and got bitten by a snake. Would it be wise to apply a bandage and splint if you know that professional help is not an option?
That’s a good question. There have been cases of people surviving snake bites by using a PIM bandage, splinting and not moving but there are variables involved eg. where you were bitten, how much poison was injected etc. I guess it depends on how far you are away from help and the importance of having an EPIRB.
There are many trees you can use but the yield is different from each one coupled with aspect, size, sun, situation etc. Wattles and Eucalypts are good because they produce a good yield and are common across Australia. Casuarinas are fine but it depends on the branch as the leaves have a smaller surface area because they are needle like, but still produce results. I also have used Green Plum in the NT which produced good results. Try to stay away from the classic universal poison indicators: opposite leaves, furry stems, trumpet shapes flowers, milky sap, prickly fruit, palmate leaves, pea pods, fungi etc. Of course there are exceptions to all these indicators. For instance Eucalypts are poisonous for us to eat but completely safe to drink using the transpiration method!
No, the only spiders that the PIM is used for are the Funnel Web and Mouse Spider. No first aid is recommended for other spiders but seek medical assistance at once if illness developes or bitten by a red back spider. Thanks for watching.
Thanks so much for watching and supporting. It was a particularly bad day with lots of wind and the camera playing up and I was faced with either keeping what I had or re- filming in 6 months. Please feel free to share.
Great informative video. Sound quality distracted somewhat and made it hard to listen in places. Nevertheless good quality education and thanks for taking the time to share it.
Thank you for your positive feedback. Yes sound quality was not good on this one due to very high winds and limited time to re-film. It was a choice of do the best with the existing sound or wait 6 months to film again.
Low death from snake bite in Australia is due to good medical care and there being antie-venom, many countries don't have anti-evenom. Australians also wear shoes
What's most important about snakes, don't get bitten in the first place. I come across snakes nearly everytime I go out on a walk. I respect them, I do not invade their personal space, and they seem to do likewise.
Yes of course...that is obvious and is my experience with snakes as well. However, to not learn snake bite first aid just in case, like any first aid, would be irresponsible. I appreciate your feedback.
You leave it on until a medical practitioner takes it off. The venom travels up the lymphatic system. The pressure from the bandage slows this down.Many people have survived snake bites due to the bodies ability to "fight" the venom in small amounts. The pressure immobilisation bandage slows the spread of the venom down along with immobilising the bitten limb. Thanks for the question.
Don’t take any stupid chances, wear correct clothing, clear around your camp, have a small fire (if safe), have reliable comms, practise one person application of PIM bandaging techniques. If going into very remote areas you should be with a buddy anyway.. prevention is always better than cure. Thanks for watching
It certainly is. There is a real melting pot of different people and cultures. I’m not a fan of the hot humid weather though, no matter how long I spend up there I can never get used to that. Thanks for watching
