Australia's plea: Stop bringing venomous snakes to hospitals
7:27 AM EDT, April 25, 2024
According to the World Health Organization, annually, around 110,000 individuals succumb to snake bites. Hospital staff in Australia have a specific request for those bitten: please do not bring the venomous snakes to the hospital.
An incident reported by the ABC website involved a patient who arrived at a Queensland hospital's emergency department after being bitten by a venomous eastern brown snake (pseudonaja textilis), carrying the snake inside a poorly secured plastic container. This caused panic among the hospital staff and hindered the diagnostic process. "We aim for swift diagnosis, and a live snake in the department significantly delays that," explained the emergency department's head.
"Having a live snake doesn’t aid in the diagnosis as our staff are not trained to identify snakes," noted toxicologist Geoff Isbister from the University of Newcastle. He reassured me that the medical team could determine the necessary antivenom without needing the snake present.
The eastern brown snake is one of the most dangerous snakes globally. The Guardian reports that Australia experiences approximately 3,000 snake bites annually, with the eastern brown snake accounting for 41 percent of these incidents.
Patients' ill-advised actions
Professional snake catcher Jonas Murphy has been summoned to the Bundaberg Hospital in Queensland multiple times to deal with venomous snakes brought into the emergency ward by patients.
The hospital has issued snake bite guidance on social media, emphasizing, "Applying a pressure bandage, cutting the wound, sucking out the venom, or bringing the snake with you is not recommended" to ensure patient safety.
Lethal Danger
Snake venom, which contains neurotoxins and enzymes that break down blood cells, can severely impact the nervous system, disrupt blood clotting, and adversely affect heart function.
Although WHO data indicates that 5.4 million people are bitten by snakes each year, only 1.8 million of these cases result in venom poisoning. Unfortunately, not everyone affected can access antivenom in time.
