Australian Snake Bite First Aid

What to do now

1. Make the area safe and call 000. Keep people clear of the snake. Tell the operator where you are and that a snakebite is suspected. Follow their instructions.
2. Check responsiveness and breathing. If the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally, start CPR immediately. Occasional gasps are not normal breathing. CPR takes priority over bandaging.
3. Keep the person still. Help them lie down, reassure them and bring help to them. Avoid walking, driving themselves or moving the bitten limb.
4. For an arm or leg bite, apply pressure bandaging and immobilise the limb. Cover the bite and as much of the limb as possible, then splint it. The steps below explain how.
5. Stay with them. Watch their breathing and responsiveness until the ambulance arrives. Leave bandages and splints in place for hospital assessment.

Breathing and CPR come first

If the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally, start chest compressions. Give 30 compressions followed by 2 breaths if you are trained and willing; otherwise continue chest compressions. Aim for about 100–120 compressions a minute. If an automated external defibrillator (AED) is available, attach it and follow its prompts. Keep following the emergency operator’s directions. ANZCOR’s CPR guideline gives the full procedure.

If the person is unresponsive but breathing normally, gently place them on their side, keep their airway open and keep checking their breathing. Airway care takes priority over keeping them still. Follow the operator’s instructions and ANZCOR’s guidance for an unconscious person.

How to apply a pressure immobilisation bandage

For a suspected bite on an arm or leg, the aim is firm pressure over the bite, bandaging along the limb and as little limb movement as possible. A broad elasticised bandage, about 10–15 cm wide, is preferred. Use clothing or other material if no suitable bandage is available. Do not delay the ambulance call to find an ideal bandage.

1. Bandage over the bite. Apply the first broad bandage firmly over the bite site. If the bite is not visible, do not spend time searching for fang marks before starting first aid.
2. Bandage the whole limb. With a second bandage, start at the fingers or toes of the bitten limb and wrap upwards, covering as much of the limb as possible. Apply it over existing clothing if practical. It should be firm enough that you cannot easily slide a finger under it. This is pressure bandaging, not a tourniquet that stops blood flow.
3. Splint and support the limb. Immobilise the joints on both sides of the bite. For an arm, use a sling as well. Keep the person and the limb at rest; bring transport to the person where possible.

If there is only one bandage, ANZCOR describes an alternative: start at the fingers or toes and continue up the limb, including the bite site. Do not remove the bandage or splint before assessment in an appropriate hospital. The emergency team can manage them there.

For a bite away from a limb, firm direct pressure over the site may help. Do not restrict breathing or chest movement, and do not apply firm pressure to the head or neck. Ask the emergency operator for guidance.

Why stillness matters

Australian snake venom can move from the bite site through the lymphatic system. Pressure bandaging and immobilisation are intended to slow that movement. Walking, moving the bitten limb or repeatedly disturbing the bandage works against that aim. Keep the person reassured and under constant observation while help comes to them. ANZCOR’s Australian snakebite guidance recommends these measures for suspected bites.

What to avoid

• Do not wash or clean the bite. Venom left on skin or clothing may help hospital staff identify the snake.
• Do not cut the wound or try to suck out venom.
• Do not use a tourniquet or anything intended to stop the limb’s blood flow.
• Do not chase, catch, kill or handle the snake. This risks another bite. A photograph already taken from a safe position may be useful, but do not move closer or delay first aid to get one.

While you wait for the ambulance

Keep checking the person’s breathing and responsiveness, even if they say they feel better. A bite may be painless and leave no obvious puncture marks; symptoms can change. Tell the ambulance crew about any collapse, confusion, breathing change or other symptoms you noticed, including symptoms that seemed to go away. If you know them, record the approximate time of the bite and the time the bandage was applied. If practical, mark the bite’s position on the outside of the bandage.

Describe the snake only from what you already saw. The person still needs hospital assessment even if they seem well or you believe the snake was harmless. Medical staff assess the bite and decide what observation or treatment is needed; identifying the snake is not a reason to postpone care. healthdirect’s snakebite advice also recommends urgent assessment and recording useful details.

If you are alone or help is hard to reach

Call 000 or summon help if you can, apply the pressure bandage as completely as possible and stay still until help arrives. Tell the operator your location and follow their advice. ANZCOR makes a narrow exception when urgent help cannot reach you and you cannot summon it: apply local pressure if possible and move to seek urgent help. Otherwise, keep yourself and the limb still and have help come to you.

Common questions

What if I cannot see a bite mark?

Still call 000 if a bite may have happened. Australian snakebites can be painless and may leave a single mark, a scratch or no visible mark. Do not use the appearance of the skin to rule out a bite.

What if the person feels fine after the bite?

They still need an ambulance and hospital assessment. Feeling well now, or seeming to recover after an initial collapse, does not rule out envenomation.

Do I need to know which snake it was?

No. Begin first aid and call 000 without waiting for a species name, a photograph or an identification result. Tell paramedics what you already observed, but do not put anyone at risk to collect more information.

Sources checked 26 September 2026: ANZCOR: Australian snakebite first aid; ANZCOR: pressure immobilisation technique; ANZCOR: CPR; ANZCOR: unconscious person; healthdirect: snake bites. This is a practical editorial summary, not a clinical review or a substitute for emergency care and first-aid training.