Camper Killed by Snake in NT

Nothing in the article suggests that he walked to the Ranger Station.
It described him as a tourist, not a seasoned Outback traveller, so what would you have done?

The original article I read said he walked into the Ranger Station in the Park.

Now, the stories are, he "presented" at the Ranger Station, and "had gone" to the Ranger Station.

The actual description of him was "interstate tourist". We are all tourists as soon as we leave our home region to check out the scenery and the sights.

I have no information on where he was in the 5000 sq km Park, when he got bitten, or how far he had to travel to the Ranger Station.
The Park is presented as a remote area suitable for bushwalking and exploration. The traditional owners only allow 15 vehicles at a time into the Park.

The remoteness of the Park poses particular difficulties when seeking help in emergencies - and the NT Govt Parks website advises travellers to the Park that it is remote, and hands out the same advice as for any other remote region.
He may have been unfortunate enough to be a fair distance from any vehicle transport when he got bitten.

It's hard to know what could have been done better, to try and save his life, when we don't have the entire story.
But if I was bitten in a remote area, I certainly wouldn't be moving my body any more than possible, and seeking immediate medical assistance.

The NT Govt advises all travellers to the Park carry a first aid kit - and you would be foolish not to have a kit in that Park, and have a kit that contained snakebite equipment, and know how to use it.

Garig Gunak Barlu Park - NT

Something i have thought about often....
Working on my own in the paddock...
Your out by yourself and get bitten ;((
no phone coverage or anyway of communicating any help . Your very much bugged . You don't have to be remote , if like me i would have to get back to my car where i have a snake bandage, radio & drive to help .if you haven't told anyone where your going to be , you could be laying there without any knowing you need help....

It is unfortunate that a story like this has happened yet again over the years.. I personally feel that authorities should make mandatory the carrying of a PLB when visiting any remote area,... deserts, mountains, or even the snow. Surely the cost of buying one or even hiring one would not be that difficult or expensive. Judy takes the plb with her in a day pack when she cross country skies as a safety precaution, as mobile phone coverage is hit and miss. This chap could have been found safe if carrying a Plb. The carrying of a plb would also save the cost or search and rescue. let alone the hundreds of hours in manpower. I do not what to get in a slanging match, but , these are my personal views only

You don’t need to be remote to need a plb either. I carry mine often if on the mountain bike etc. if there is a possibility of coming off or getting bitten. With Aussie snakes, If you don’t stay still you are dead.

Whilst there might be some general ‘rules’ worth following and actions to take in the event of a snake bite, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t adapt to the situation you find yourself in.

For sure, if I had no means of communicating my situation , I wouldn’t just lie down and hope for a better outcome. I’d run, walk, or crawl if needed...

Noting I carry a snake bite kit and PLB when in the bush...

Cheers, Baz - The Landy

Nick - In the early 1970's, in the Central Great Southern wheatbelt area of W.A., a farmer client of mine (Clarry) was out by himself in a large paddock, picking up stray mallee roots for firewood, and to clean up the paddock for the coming season - and as he reached down into some long Annual Rye Grass, a Dugite sprung out of the grass and bit him on the arm (a real snake-in-the-grass!).

In those days, there was no mobile phone communications, and Clarry was working alone, a fair distance from the homestead.
He jumped into his ute, drove home, rang the local hospital (which was about 40 kms away), and got medical advice from the duty matron.
His wife then drove him to hospital, where snake anti-venom was administered.

In those days, of course, there wasn't the same level of knowledge as today, as regards snakebite venom movement in the body.
It was thought back then, that the snake venom travelled via the bloodstream, and cutting the wound and draining some blood from the bite area would improve the victims chances.
And a tight tourniquet on the affected limb was recommended, to restrict blood flow.

Nowadays, the snake venom travel method through the body is better understood, and we no longer cut the bite area and try to drain blood - nor are tourniquets now recommended.

Despite Clarry using antiquated medical advice, and taking some time to get to hospital, he survived O.K. and suffered no long-term ill effects.
Clarry only died last year at the ripe old age of 92, so it appears the Dugite bite didn't affect his health greatly.

I have spent a lot of time working alone in remote bush areas in the 60's and 70's, and was very alert to the fact that any number of life-threatening events can overtake you quickly, and you must be prepared.

Fortunately, we live in an age today where communication levels are superb, and even in the remotest areas, you can still contact people when you get into trouble.
The level of communications you carry today is your decision - but telling someone where you're going, what your plans are, and when you are likely to return, is the all-important process that worked in the 1960's - it still works today, and it certainly helps Police and Emergency Services find you faster, if they get notice that you are missing, not responding, or in trouble.

Snakebite is certainly a real concern when working in the bush, in long grass, and when your attention is diverted from the ground.
Wearing long pants of heavy material and good boots, is a good start on reducing snakebite damage. Most bites are on the limbs, and mostly on the leg or foot area.
Never forget that many snakes are also active at night, so don't drop your guard at night time.

If bitten, keeping your body movement to a minimum is the recommended technique, to prevent the spread of venom, which travels through the body via the fat cells and lymph system.
Any muscle movement assists in venom spread. Most people do not get a "full dose" of venom, and quite a number of snakebite victims don't realise they have been bitten, because they think they only scratched themselves on a branch or stick.

Getting professional medical assistance quickly is important - so knowing where, and how, you can get that medical assistance from the area you're travelling into, is good planning.

It's also important to know what the varieties of snake are, that you're likely to encounter, in the area you're travelling into.
Medical recommendations can vary, according to the region, and according to the snake variety.

The RFDS and the QLD Health Dept have excellent advice pages, linked to below.

RFDS - Snakebite advice

QLD Health - Top 5 things you need to do, if you get bitten by a snake

Cheers, Ron.

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Generally agree with you Ron. I would add just a couple of things:

Agreed that the most important action is to promptly apply compressive bandaging, immobilise the limb, and remain motionless. I understand that patients have survived after some hours of this treatment before receiving medical help and often without administration of antivenine.

It is no longer necessary to identify the snake variety since the introduction of polyvalent antivenine as it saves all varieties. Hunting the snake to identify is hazardous and a diversion from patient care.

PLB's are all very well but possibly suffer from delayed response time. The received PLB signal is first validated by contacting your nominated person to eliminate false activity, then determining and contacting the appropriate responder which may be one of several agencies including station management. Allmof which takes time and they still do not know the form of the emergency or the urgency need. To my mind, a satphone bypasses all this and can indicate the nature of the emergency and gain the most appropriate response.

Of course, the big problem is if you are alone. Applying the compressive bandage is more difficult and involves undesirable movement. Then you need to sit and wait patiently (pardon the pun) until help arrives, assuming you have been able to summon same. Jumping in the car and driving may be the worse thing you can do..... but if you have no communication then it would be hard to resist, eh?

I doubt very much if a PLB would get medically qualified assistance to a victim in a remote situation in under 1 hour!

Brown snake bites, even apparently trivial ones, have been associated with acute deterioration over a five minute period leading to death. This may occur as soon as 30 minutes to an hour after the original bite. Acute, severe cardiac depression may be the mechanism for sudden death.

We picked up some new style of snake bite bandages from st jonhs that form a square patton in the fabric when they are at the right tension..

Quite a common misconception...

Bites from juveniles are more dangerous.

They don't have the ability to control the amount of venom and haven't yet learnt to dry bite.

Cheers

Anthony

So the snake was in the car - how did it get in?

Through the door? Not uncommon.

In a cowrie type shell. Maybe not so uncommon :)

Regards