Australian hospitals plea: Stop bringing venomous snakes for treatment
The World Health Organization reports that every year, around 110,000 people die from snake bites. Australian hospital staff have one request for patients. They urge victims not to bring venomous snakes with them to the hospital.
25 April 2024 08:46
The head of the emergency department at a hospital in Queensland, quoted by the ABC website, reported that in early April, a victim bitten by a venomous eastern brown snake (pseudonaja textilis) appeared in the emergency room. The snake brought to the hospital was in a poorly secured plastic container, greatly frightening the staff. "We want the sick to be diagnosed quickly, and the presence of a live snake in the department slows down this process" - explained the head of the emergency department.
"A live snake does not facilitate the diagnosis because the staff is not trained in recognizing snakes," added toxicologist Geoff Isbister from the University of Newcastle. He assured that doctors could easily determine whether and what antivenom the patient needed without the snake's presence.
The eastern brown snake is among the most dangerous snakes in the world. As reported by "The Guardian", Australia records about 3,000 snake bites every year, with the eastern brown snake being responsible for 41 percent of them.
Patients' ill-advised actions
Jonas Murphy, a professional snake catcher, was called to the Bundaberg Hospital in Queensland several times to remove a venomous snake brought in by a patient to the emergency ward.
The hospital posted advice on social media about snake bites. "It is not recommended to apply a pressure bandage, cut the wound, suck out the venom or bring the snake with you," the facility emphasized.
Lethal danger
Snake venom contains toxic substances and enzymes to the nervous system, causing the breakdown of blood cells, causing cell breakdown, disrupting blood clotting, and poorly affecting the heart.
Although, according to WHO data, as many as 5.4 million people are bitten each year, only in 1.8 million cases does this result in venom poisoning. Not always are these individuals able to receive antivenom in time.
