Vagrant in Derby

Submitted: Monday, May 07, 2007 at 17:08

ThreadID: 45185 Views:2727 Replies:10 FollowUps:10

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Andrew from Vivid Adventures

After an accidental meeting in Purnululu (the artist formerly known as Bungle Bungle) with a small Joe Blake who chose to introduce himself with his fangs and then fanged off under a spinifex bush and down a nondescript hole, the writer found himself enjoying the hospitality of the RFDS's Dr. Colin, Pilot Jeff and Nurse Diane on an unscheduled side tour back to Derby.

My first aid came in handy (carrying those pressure bandages is worthwhile - go and get some today if you're heading bush), and my concentrated relaxation seemed to do the trick. I managed to escape by dispensing with my Boab Prison Tree blue garb at the Derby Hospital and am now terrorising the natives whilst I wait for my lift back to Purnululu.

While I'm here, I can report that Cape Levecque is a picture too. Great sunsets. Hot days. Road conditions ranging from sublime to ridiculous (but they're working on them). Reasonably challenging sand driving up near Kooljaman (and great beach-side camping to boot).

Mud-crabs collected with the Lombo boys on the Sound side of the peninsular and promptly eaten for lunch were the freshest most luxurious and succulent fellows you have ever eaten - recommend highly visiting Lombodina for this delicacy alone. $66 per head if you stay there.

Windjana, Tunnel Creek road pretty much finished grading now and in great nick. Bottom part of the GRR smooth as a baby's bottom.

58km of Road through Mable Downs to Purnululu NP takes about 1.5 hours and is in reasonable condition. Huge spinifex grass and lots of green at Purnululu.

I'll see you all when I get back if I don't stay for more mud-crabs.

Cheers,
Andrew covering more country than he cares to.

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Reply By: Mike Harding - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 17:29

Monday, May 07, 2007 at 17:29

Good one Andrew - would have been a shame to loose you - although... if it happens again... can I have your cameras? :)

Got to agree about the pressure bandages and knowing what to do with them.

I often say I'm going to carry a cigarette and match in my first-aid case and if I get bitten light up (after 20 smoke free years) in order to relax a bit and... maybe, have a "last cig"? :)

Mike Harding

AnswerID: 238410

Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 17:32

Monday, May 07, 2007 at 17:32

A good time to give a plug to an excellent website:

The University of Melbourne's Australian Venom Research Unit

www.avru.org/

All you need to know about snakes, spiders etc and the first-aid to deal with them - no one should go bush without reading this website.

Mike Harding

FollowupID: 499504

Follow Up By: Andrew from Vivid Adventures - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 17:41

Monday, May 07, 2007 at 17:41

Hi Mike,

If it happens again I'll do the same thing, and hopefully with the same results.

Seems the protocol these days is hospital observation and monitoring for 24 hours after the bite, and the medics have stories of people who have done first aid for up to 8 hours, had all the symptoms suppressed, and then released the bandages only to be dead in 30 minutes.

They are adamant that good bandaging gives you 4-6 hours to get to hospital and get the full snake ID and antivalent treatment.

Thanks for the site though,
Andrew.

FollowupID: 499507

Follow Up By: Andrew from Vivid Adventures - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 18:10

Monday, May 07, 2007 at 18:10

Also RFDS has a good article on their site:

www.flyingdoctor.net/resources.htm

Cheers
Andrew.

FollowupID: 499513

Follow Up By: Steve from Top End Explorer Tours - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 20:15

Monday, May 07, 2007 at 20:15

Hey Andrew

Good to hear your alright, there a bastard those wriggly things.

Your right a senior first aid course is the go, and as you say if treated properly 4/6 hours is a good head start.

The biggest problem is identification, which creates a lot of bites in itself.

Most bites (98%) are from people trying to catch or kill them, (99%) are non venomated .

Rule of thumb is large scales (13 from belly across to belly ) would indicate a venomous snake, or small scales would indicate python, then you have your venomous but not dangerous rear fanged snake EG: tree snake

Anyway take a harden up pill and you will be alright. LOL

Take care Steve.

FollowupID: 499542

Follow Up By: hiab - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 20:38

Monday, May 07, 2007 at 20:38

you need to take a humility pill

FollowupID: 499550

Follow Up By: Steve from Top End Explorer Tours - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 20:53

Monday, May 07, 2007 at 20:53

Hiab don't take a harmless jib and turn it into something it's not.

Steve.

FollowupID: 499551

Reply By: Willem - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 17:30

Monday, May 07, 2007 at 17:30

Hmmmm suppose you was wearing them Israeli sandals for the JB to take an interest. Hope the JB survived. Glad you did too...lol

AnswerID: 238411

Follow Up By: Andrew from Vivid Adventures - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 17:38

Monday, May 07, 2007 at 17:38

Nup. Was wearing Made in China Outdoor Expedition boots and JB caught just under the flap it appears - two nice sets of 4mm fang marks and a bit of blood drawn.

JB survived and I did too with just a bit of a headache that went with the help of a saline drip, numerous blood tests, ECG monitoring and a little O2.

Seems JB was perhaps a little fella, or one of the lesser venenous ones, and may have just eaten or not got a proper go at me, and combined with good first aid made the situation rather more boring.

Cheers
Andrew who had seen five big JBs in the previous few days.

FollowupID: 499506

Reply By: Member - Willie , Epping .Syd. - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 17:45

Monday, May 07, 2007 at 17:45

Hi Andrew ,

Thanks for the road report and glad you did not suffer too much from the bite .

I am not so scared of dying now that the rules have been changed and the unbaptised can get through the pearly gates BUT nevertheless I bought a 2.5 m long pressure bandage today to leave in my glove box . You must be the only person "round here " who has used one . Is my 2.5 m long enough ? The guy in the chemist shop had no idea at all .

Thanks ,

Willie .

AnswerID: 238414

Follow Up By: Andrew from Vivid Adventures - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 18:05

Monday, May 07, 2007 at 18:05

Not being an expert on this matter, this is what I had:

3 x six inch odd wide stretchy bandages that were each about 2.5 metres long. I am now going to get six to cover a two-limbic situation.

You do the foot (or hand) right up to the groin (where the lymphic system is) and then down and up again ... as tight as if a sprained ankle

I'm not a big guy, and I needed the three - but you can always use a sheet cut into strips or anything else that comes to hand. Splinting in any situation where the patient is going to be moved will require more than three I would suggest, but as I was sitting still basically until the FRDS Pilatus arrived, we didn't bother with splinting.

I believe that it is a simple thing that will save a life. As the doc said to me, probably more effective than the rest of your first aid kit in any real life-threatening situation.

Cheers,
Andrew.

FollowupID: 499512

Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 18:29

Monday, May 07, 2007 at 18:29

Not sorry to labour the point - everyone should know this stuff:

www.avru.org/firstaid/firstaid_pib.html

Mike Harding

FollowupID: 499518

Follow Up By: Member - Willie , Epping .Syd. - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 18:41

Monday, May 07, 2007 at 18:41

Thanks Mike . I printed that out and will wrap it in with the bandages .
Willie .

FollowupID: 499520

Reply By: Gob & Denny - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 18:39

Monday, May 07, 2007 at 18:39

goodday andrew
glad you are ok
as a by the by how was frds contacted do you carry sat phone or hf ?????

steve

AnswerID: 238423

Reply By: Member - extfilm (NSW) - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 19:01

Monday, May 07, 2007 at 19:01

Glad to hear you can go back to Lombodina for more fresh muddies. Best of all you were prepared for the situation, both mentally and with the right equipement.
Well done mate. Good to see you can still keep clicking away

AnswerID: 238426

Reply By: mfewster - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 19:31

Monday, May 07, 2007 at 19:31

Hi Andrew

AnswerID: 238436

Reply By: mfewster - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 19:36

Monday, May 07, 2007 at 19:36

Hi Andrew
I will try this again. I seem to have sent the message before it was finished. So that's where you are. Coincidentally, I tried to get you at home earlier today. You will find an email from me waiting for you.
Pleased to hear you are OK. You don't mention the condition of the JB.
Cheers
Mike

AnswerID: 238438

Reply By: V8Diesel - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 20:25

Monday, May 07, 2007 at 20:25

Glad to hear you're OK Andrew. Sound like you followed the correct procedure alright and a happy ending is the end result. Thanks go to the RFDS too.

I firmly believe it should be compulsory that no kid should be able to graduate from school and no adult should be able to obtain a drivers licence or passport without a minimum of a St John's Senior First Aid qualification. No exceptions. I can't think of one good reason why not. If you can't afford it, you can't afford to drive or fly either. If it's against your religion, walk.

I also think for $3K or so a portable idiot proof defibrilator should be mandatory in all service stations, pubs and supermarkets - especially in rural and remote areas. They are life savers and more than double your chances of survival.

Can anyone think of one reason why this shouldn't be the case?

AnswerID: 238453

Reply By: Des Lexic - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 22:22

Monday, May 07, 2007 at 22:22

G'day Andrew, Glad you are OK and also the Purnululu Bandit too. They're only doing what comes naturally.
Heading off to Broken Hill Friday and you have made me go and check my First Aid Kit. Pressure Bandages Packed. LOL
The Lombadina people are great aren't they and Cape Leveque became my favourite place in Australia after visiting it about 10 years ago. One place that I'll return to one day.
Cheers
Des

AnswerID: 238488