The Australian Reptile Park has issued an urgent warning for the public to be on the lookout for venomous snakes with temperatures due to hit the high 20s in coming weeks.
With the arrival of Spring, the Central Coast has already seen a weekend of temperatures of 28 and 29 degrees, with more hot weather predicted for the coming weekend and an early increase in snake sightings.
As the region’s families continue in lockdown, more people are spending their weekends bushwalking for outdoor exercise so the likelihood of coming into contact with Australia’s dangerous snakes has increased exponentially.
The warm weather has created the perfect environment for snakes to begin emerging from hibernation.
The Australian Reptile Park is calling for the public to exercise extreme caution when enjoying the warmer weather.
Home to the world’s most venomous snakes, Australia sees approximately 3000 snake bites occur per year, of which around 300 receive antivenom, and on average, one or two bites prove fatal.
The Australian Reptile Park is the only facility in Australia that milks venomous terrestrial snakes for their venom to help produce antivenom.
Reptile Keeper, Jake Meney, said there’s no better time than right now to brush up on your snake bite first aid.
“It’s important that all Australians know our slithery friends do not go out of their way to harm humans,” he said.
“Snake bites mostly occur when people are trying to catch or kill the snake, so if you don’t do either of those things you should be okay.
“However, it is important to know the correct first aid technique, so if the worst-case scenario occurs you are prepared.”
First aid for snake bites includes keeping the bite victim calm and immobile, removing all jewellery including watches, applying a pressure-immobilisation bandage to the bite site, then bandaging the entire limb (not just the bite area) and seeking emergency medical assistance immediately by calling an ambulance or going directly to hospital.
“By applying the pressure-immobilisation bandage, venom cannot easily spread through the body, slowing down the envenomation process by giving more time for the bite victim to seek antivenom at hospital” added Meney said.
“Anyone who visits us here at the Park knows our staff spend as much time as possible educating people on snake safety.
“While the Australian Reptile Park saves approximately 300 lives each year through our antivenom program, experience tells us basic awareness and safety can also help save lives.”
The Park houses over 250 of the world’s most venomous snakes.
They are milked fortnightly by the venom keepers, as part of the Park’s program for the production of antivenom.
Snakes milked include taipans, eastern brown snakes, king brown snakes, tiger snakes, death adders, and black snakes.
The warmer weather may also see snakes venturing into backyards.
To help deter them, the Park advises householders to keep grass areas around houses mowed and well maintained and avoid piling up left over wood from winter or accumulating stick piles.
Tin sheets or any household items like these that are piled up can draw in heat providing a perfect man-made habitat for snakes.
These areas provide a safe house for snakes as they sit in stealth mode awaiting prey to feed, and if startled they will defend through biting.
Depending on the species of venomous snake, a bite could destroy blood cells, cause blood clots, or excessive bleeding and destroy tissue.
If not correctly treated with first aid immediately, a fatality can occur in as little as 30 minutes, depending on the amount of venom injected by the snake, toxicity level of the venom and the type of snake.
Source:
Media release, Sep 10
Australian Reptile Park