A local Corndale resident who was recently bitten by a brown snake was lucky to be alive after his ordeal, with Lismore Base Hospital medical staff needing to administer adrenaline after the anti venom affected his consciousness on several occasions, the experience which hairdresser Bruce Mann shares on social media "was excruciatingly painful, unlike anything I've ever experienced before, no painkillers could stop it".

A shocking reminder Bruce says "that snake bite first aid and a snake bite kit, is critical!"

With flood waters covering such large area's this year, Corndale and similar higher area's of our LGA became the refuge for many animals, and snake handlers and farmers are seeing far greater numbers in these area's, this year. Similarly there was a surge this time last year, however in comparison, some say there is a snake plague vs what was last year, more of a natural surge.

Snake's naturally become very active in the Summer months, but have increased venom and are more likely to strike as they "wake up" and get active, in the beginning of the warmer Summer months, as we are seeing now.

According to an international study: GBD 2019 Snakebite Envenomation Collaborators. Global mortality of snakebite envenoming between 1990 and 2019. Nat Commun 13, 6160 (2022). found here: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-33627-9, snake venom killed 0ver 60,000 people globally in 2019, and due to the preventable nature of these deaths, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has set a target to halve these mortality rates by 2030.

"Snakebite envenomation in Australia is not common, with 3000 cases, 500 hospital admissions, and an average of 2 deaths in Australia each year" according to Australian study: Braitberg G, Nimorakiotakis V, Yap CYL, Mukaro V, Welton R, Parker A, Knott J, Story D. The Snake Study: Survey of National Attitudes and Knowledge in Envenomation. Toxins (Basel). 2021 Jul 12;13(7):482.

Whilst only 29 people died in Australia between the years of 2010-2019, the risk of death or illness from a snake does not just extend to the human members of your family; our much loved pets are at even higher risk of death, due to the extended periods they spend outside, their proximity to the ground, and natural curiosity.

The best way to prevent surprise snake encounters around your home and property, are to ensure your grass is kept short, no piles of household items, wood, building materials, tools etc are left around or under the home, and that you and your family are aware and check before walking around the yard or property.

Those of you who attended the Lismore Show may have caught up on your snake bite first aid, and even bought a snake bite kit, complete with pressure bandage with stretch square on it (a marking that shows how tight is appropriate by the shape of the square marking, which turns rectangular or warps if applied too tight), but for those who may not have caught the snake bite education there, here is a good resource to find out more, so that you can act appropriately if this happens to you, or someone around you.

The key to saving a life is taking action to call 000 straight away, to immobilise the person and limb, to prevent the venom spreading into the body, any further. All snake bites need to be checked, in case they are life threatening, so if someone you know or love is bitten, do not hesitate, act straight away!

If you are looking for a Snake Bite Kit, head along to one of our local chemists, to support local or order from a local QLD medical supplier here or similar online store.