2. Bites and Stings
• Before we get into different types of bite and
stings, you will need to ensure you know what
and how to do a special technique called the
Pressure Immobilisation Technique (PIT).
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3. Bites and Stings
Pressure Immobilisation Technique (PIT)
• This is a bandaging technique originally
developed to treat Australian venomous snake
bites. However this bandaging technique is also
recommended for other bites and stings. The PIT
is also recommended for severe allergic reactions
from injected venoms.
Please watch this video on the Pressure
Immobilisation Technique (PIT)
• https://youtu.be/VgY2Gts3P7E
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4. Bites and Stings
PIT is recommended for bites and stings of the
following:
• All Australian venomous snakes, including sea
snakes
• Funnel web or mouse spider
• Blue-ringed octopus
• Cone shell
• Allergic reactions to bee, wasp and ant stings
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5. Bites and Stings
PIT is not recommended for bites and stings of
the following:
• Red-back spider or other spider bites
• Jellyfish stings
• Fish stings including stone fish
• Bites or stings by scorpions, centipedes or
beetles
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6. Bites and Stings
Steps to assist casualty
• Call ambulance
• Reassure he casualty and keep them still and calm
• Apply a broad (10 – 15cm wide) pressure bandage over bite
site
• Apply another broad bandage starting a toes or fingers and
bandage up limb as far as possible
• Bandage should be as firm as for a sprained ankle but not
tight enough to stop blood flow
• Splint the limb to prevent any muscles, limb or joint
movement
• Keep casualty and limb completely still
• If bite is not on a limb, apply firm direct pressure to bite site
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7. CSF_V1_0316 7
Treatment Ambulance 000 Medical Aid Pressure
Immobilisation
Technique
Ice pack or cold
compress
Hot water Vinegar
Bite or Sting
Snake Yes Yes
Funnel web or
mouse spider
Yes Yes
Red-back spider Yes Yes
Other spiders Yes Yes
Bee, wasp, ant If allergic If allergic Yes
Tick If allergic Yes Yes
Dog, cat, other Yes
Jellyfish in
tropics
Yes Yes
Jellyfish in non-
tropics
If severe Yes If heat does not
help
Yes
Blue-ringed
octopus
Yes Yes
Cone Shell Yes Yes
Fish spine stings Yes If heat does not
help
Yes
Stingray If severe Yes If heat does not
help
8. Bites and Stings
Snake Bites
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Bite from a number of Australian venomous
snakes can be fatal. To reduce the risk of fatality,
you should provide the appropriate first aid care
as soon as possible and seek prompt medical
aid.
9. Bites and Stings
Snake Bites
Signs and Symptoms
• Puncture or scratch marks caused by fangs
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Blurred or double vision, drooping eyelids
• Difficulty speaking, swallowing or breathing
• Swollen or tender glands in groin or armpit of bitten
limb
• Limb weakness or paralysis
• Loss of consciousness
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10. Bites and Stings
Snake Bites
Steps to assist the casualty
• Call ambulance
• Keep casualty still
• Bandage bite area with Pressure Immobilisation
Technique
• Monitor casualty closely
• No not cut bite site
• Do not use an arterial tourniquet
• Do not wash or suck bite
• Do not try to catch or kill the snake
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11. Bites and Stings
Spider Bites
• Spider Bites
• Spider bites can cause severe pain or other
serious symptoms. The recommended first aid
for a spider bite will depend on the type of
spider involved. If however, any serious signs
and symptoms develop always seek medical
aid.
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12. Bites and Stings
Spider Bites
Funnel Web or Mouse Spider Bites
• All suspected bites from funnel web or mouse spiders should be
considered dangerous, seek medical aid. Antivenom is available for
a funnel web bite.
Signs and Symptoms
• Pain at bite site
• Tingling around the mouth
• Profuse sweating or saliva
• Abdominal pain
• Muscular twitching
• Difficulty breathing
• Confusion
• Unconsciousness
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13. Bites and Stings
Spider Bites
Steps to assist casualty
• Call Ambulance
• Follow Basic Life Support steps
• Apply Pressure Immobilisation Technique
bandage immediately
• Keep casualty still and calm
• Monitor vital signs
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14. Bites and Stings
Spider Bites
Red-back Spiders Bites
• A red-back spider bite can be life threatening
for a child, but is unlikely to be as dangerous
for an adult. Pain can range from mild to
severe and occurs quickly after the bite.
Serious symptoms usually take time to
develop. Anti-venom is available for a red-
back spider bite.
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15. Bites and Stings
Spider Bites
Signs and symptoms
• Immediate pain at bite site that increase and
spreads
• Bite site becomes red, hot and swollen
• Abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting
• Profuse sweating, especially as bite site
• Swollen, tender glands in groin or armpit of
bitten limb
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16. Bites and Stings
Spider Bites
Steps to assist casualty
• Follow Basic Life Support steps
• Apply Ice pack or cold compress
• Seek medical aid
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17. Bites and Stings
Spider Bites
White –tailed and other spiders
• The bites from other spiders can cause
localised pain redness or swelling.
Steps to assist casualty
• Follow Basic Life Support steps
• Apply Ice pack or cold compress
• If the bite starts to ulcerate or shows signs of
infection seek medical aid
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18. Bee, wasp and ant stings
Usually a sting from a bee, wasp or ant is not
usually dangerous. However, if a person has
multiple stings around their face or airways or if
they have an allergic reaction, they can have
difficulty breathing the situation becomes life
threatening.
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19. Bee, wasp and ant stings
Signs and symptoms
• Immediate and intense pain at sting site
• Local redness and swelling
• Allergic reaction
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20. Bee, wasp and ant stings
Steps to assist casualty
• Remove stinging insect from skin
• Move casualty to safe area, if required
• If there is any ‘stinger’ still in the skin; remove by
brushing sideways
• Apply ice pack or cold compress
• If casualty requires additional pain relief seek medical
aid
• If casualty has difficulty breathing or signs of an allergic
reaction, call ambulance
• Follow Basic Life Support steps
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21. Tick Bites
There are various species of ticks which can inject
venom hat can cause recurring fever, allergic
reaction and paralysis. Tick can attach anywhere on
a casualty’s body to feed on their blood.
Paralysis ticks (also known as ‘scrub or hard ticks’)
may have been attached for several days before it is
noticed - remove it as soon as possible. Paralysis
may still occur after the tick is removed, as the
venom which it injects is slow acting. Soft ticks only
attach briefly for feeding.
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22. Tick Bites
Signs and symptoms
• Local irritation near tick
• Lethargy
• Muscle weakness
• Difficulty walking
• Double vision
• Difficulty swallowing or breathing
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23. Tick Bites
Steps to assist casualty
• Use fine-pointed tweezers to grasp it as close to the skin as
possible
• Gently pull the tick out using slow, steady upward pressure
• Wash bite site and apply anti septic after removal
• Check the casualty’s body for other ticks, including ears,
skin creases, hair.
• If casualty develops a rash or persistent headache, fever or
aching joints seek immediate medical aid
• If casualty shows signs of allergic reaction call ambulance,
do not remove tick
• Follow Basic Life Support steps
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24. Dog, Cat and other animal bites
• Any bite that beaks the skin can cause an
infection. Animal bite can cause damage to
the muscles and other tissues. The casualty
should seek medical aid for any animal bite.
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25. Dog, Cat and other animal bites
Steps to assist casualty
• Make sure there is no danger of another attack from the
animal
• Control bleeding
• If wound is minor:
– Clean wound thoroughly using soap and water
– If punctures in skin, soak wound
– Apply sterile dressing
• Seek medical aid as there may be risk of infection or
tetanus
• If wound is serious or casualty is in shock call ambulance
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26. Jellyfish Stings
• Stings from jellyfish and other marine
creatures found in Australian coastal waters
can be painful and potentially cause serious
and even fatal illness. First aid treatment for a
jelly fish sting will depend on whether the
sting occurred in tropical or non-tropical
Australia.
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27. Jellyfish Stings
Signs and symptoms
• Easily visible tentacles on the skin
• Skin markings – visible, painful
marks and blisters (these can also
be mild and less visible)
• Immediate pain – mile irritation
through to severe, sharp or burning
pain
• General muscles aches
• Severe muscle cramps in limbs,
chest and abdomen
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28. Jellyfish Stings
Severe stings
• Severe pain
• Headaches, nausea, vomiting
• Feeling restless and behaving irrationally
• Profuse sweating
• Difficulty breathing or breathing stops
• Loss of consciousness
• Cardiac arrest
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29. Jellyfish Stings
Steps to assist casualty - in Tropical Australia
• Remove casualty from water and restrain if required
• Call ambulance
• Follow Basic Life Support steps
• Spray or wash sting area with vinegar for a minimum of
30 seconds
• Pick off any tentacles on skin
• Apply cold ice pack or ice in a dry plastic bag to reduce
pain (Do not allow any fresh water on skin)
• Monitor vital signs
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30. Jellyfish Stings
Steps to assist casualty - in Non-Tropical Australia
• Reassure casualty and keep them comfortable
• Do not allow anyone to rub sting area
• Pick off tentacles and flush with sea water
• Immerse string area in hot water, not hotter than the
first aider can comfortably tolerate, for 20 minutes
• If heat does not relieve pain or hot water is not
available ice in a dry plastic bag to reduce pain
• If pain persists or if an doubt about casualty’s condition
call ambulance
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31. Blue-ringed Octopus and Cone Shell
A blue-ringed octopus can be found in all
Australian coastal waters and its venomous bite
could be fatal. Cone Shells inject venom if
handled or trodden on. The venom from both of
the creatures can cause prolonged muscle
weakness and paralysis which can result in
breathing failure in as little as 30 minutes.
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32. Blue-ringed Octopus and Cone Shell
Signs and Symptoms
• Painless bite site with spot of
blood visible
• Numbness of lips and tongue
• Progressive weakness of
breathing muscles
• Breathing stops
• Casualty may become
paralysed and unable to
respond but may be aware of
what is happening around
them
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33. Blue-ringed Octopus and Cone Shell
Steps to assist the casualty
• Call ambulance
• Reassure the casualty
• Monitor vital signs
• Keep the casualty still
• Apply Pressure Immobilisation Technique
bandage immediately
• Follow Basic Life Support steps
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34. Fish spine stings
• Some species of fish such as the Stonefish and
Bullrouts have spines which can inject venom
deeply into wounds causing severe pain.
Stingray spines can also cause deep painful
puncture wounds.
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35. Fish spine stings
Signs and symptoms
• Intense pain
• Swelling
• Grey/Blue wound discolouration
• Open bleeding wound
• Fish spines embedded in wound
• Panic or irrational behaviour due to pain
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36. Fish spine stings
Steps to assist casualty
• Immerse wound in hot water (only as hot as
the first aider can comfortably stand)
• If hot water does not ease pain apply and ice
pack or cold compress
• Seek medical aid
• If severe call an ambulance
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