Australia: Treat every suspected snake bite as an emergency. Call Triple Zero (000) for an ambulance, keep the person completely still and apply pressure-immobilisation first aid to a bitten limb. Do not wash the bite, apply a tourniquet, cut the skin or try to catch the snake.
Do these 12 things now — immediate numbered actions
- Check immediate safety. Move away from the snake without chasing, touching or cornering it. Keep other people and pets clear.
- Call 000 and request an ambulance. Say “suspected snake bite”, give the precise location and describe the patient’s condition; follow the call-taker.
- Stop movement. Ask the patient to lie down and stay still. Do not let them walk to a vehicle, walk for help or search for the snake.
- Reassure the patient. Explain that professional help is coming. Keep them warm enough and comfortable without unnecessary movement.
- For a bitten arm or leg, bandage the bite site. If you have an elasticised roller bandage, apply firm pressure over the bite according to Australian pressure-immobilisation guidance.
- Apply a second broad, firm bandage up the bitten limb. Start just above the fingers or toes and continue upwards as far as practical. This is pressure bandaging, not an arterial tourniquet.
- Immobilise the entire bitten limb. Use a splint if available and minimise all limb movement. Do not ask the patient to walk after bandaging.
- Mark information for clinicians. Note the approximate bite time and when bandages were applied; mark the suspected bite location on the bandage if known.
- Do not wash the skin or clothing at the bite. Residual venom may help with medical identification.
- Do not suck, cut, ice or tourniquet the bite. Avoid alcohol, unproven remedies and attempts to identify venom by capturing the snake.
- Watch breathing and responsiveness. If the patient becomes unresponsive and is not breathing normally, start CPR and use an AED if available under 000 guidance.
- Stay until the ambulance arrives. Tell responders about symptoms, timing, bandaging, known conditions and any changes. Do not remove the bandage on your own.
Reading during an actual bite? Call 000 immediately. Use the list above and the ambulance call-taker’s instructions. The rest of this article explains why the decisions matter.
Snake bites in Australia require a very different response from everyday scrapes or insect stings. People can feel well at first, the bite may barely be visible, and identification by colour or pattern is unreliable. The safest response is to treat a suspected bite as serious until professionals assess the patient.
This guide uses the Australian Healthdirect and St John Ambulance Australia advice on pressure immobilisation and emergency medical care. It explains what to do in bushland, on walking tracks, in a garden or at a campsite, with separate advice for children, difficult bite sites and people who become unresponsive.
Find the part you need
The first decisions · How bandaging works · What not to do · Symptoms · Real-world situations · Hospital care · Prevention · FAQs · Sources
Why early ambulance contact comes before identifying a snake
Australia has several medically significant venomous snake species, including brown snakes, taipans, tiger snakes, death adders and some sea snakes. Snakes may be difficult to see clearly, and a brief glimpse does not justify delaying an emergency call. Healthdirect treats all snake bites as potentially life-threatening, including suspected sea-snake bites.
You do not need a photograph, a captured animal or a diagnosis before calling 000. The ambulance service needs a precise location, a short description of the suspected bite and information about the patient’s breathing and alertness. If mobile coverage is poor, the call-taker can advise on the next step. Do not send the bitten person to climb for reception; ask an unbitten companion to seek help if safe and necessary.
If the snake is still near you, increase distance without threatening it. Avoid sudden attempts to strike or trap it. A second bite can occur when people try to kill a snake, and a live animal creates another hazard for rescuers.
How to use pressure immobilisation correctly
Why the bandage is firm but not a tourniquet
Australian first aid aims to slow the movement of venom through the lymphatic system while preserving the blood circulation of the limb. A pressure-immobilisation bandage is not a thin string tied tightly around the arm or leg. A tourniquet intentionally restricts blood flow and is not recommended for Australian snake-bite first aid.
Healthdirect recommends placing a 10–15 cm elasticised roller bandage over the bite, then a second firm bandage from near the fingers or toes upwards along the affected limb, as high as practical. St John Ambulance illustrates this technique. Apply a firm, even wrap rather than a narrow constriction. Follow the dispatcher or trained first-aider’s advice when available.
Step-by-step for a bite on a lower leg
- Help the patient lie down on a safe stable surface without standing or walking.
- If the bite location is known, apply the first broad elasticised bandage firmly over it.
- Using another suitable bandage, begin just above the toes and wrap firmly upwards along the leg, covering the length that can be reached.
- Keep the leg still using a splint or suitable support, avoiding unnecessary movement.
- Write down the timing and, if practical, mark the suspected bite position on top of the bandage for clinicians.
- Leave the bandage and splint in place for professional management; do not loosen repeatedly to inspect the bite.
For a bite on an arm, use the same principle: maintain stillness, apply pressure at the bite and wrap upwards from near the fingers toward the torso, then immobilise. If you lack a formal splint, the key is stillness and safe support. Do not spend critical time improvising elaborate equipment while the patient keeps moving.
When the bite is on the torso, face or neck
A limb bandaging procedure cannot simply be copied onto the neck, head, chest or abdomen. Do not wrap material around the neck or put pressure where it could restrict breathing. Keep the person as still as possible, call 000 and follow the ambulance service’s instructions. The position of the bite changes what a first-aider can safely do.
What if there is no bandage?
A missing first-aid kit is not a reason to delay the ambulance call or make the patient walk. Keep them still and ask the dispatcher what is safe using available supplies. Do not substitute a belt, cable, cord or narrow rope. At the first practical opportunity, use correctly sized pressure bandages applied by someone who understands the technique.
What you must not do after an Australian snake bite
- Do not wash the bite. Skin or clothing samples may help clinicians identify venom.
- Do not use an arterial tourniquet. This is not the recommended pressure-immobilisation method.
- Do not cut, burn, squeeze or suck the wound. These methods are ineffective and can introduce injury.
- Do not apply ice as a substitute for first aid. It will not reverse venom effects.
- Do not drive the patient if you can await ambulance care safely. Walking to a vehicle or driving alone creates avoidable risk.
- Do not wait for swelling or severe pain. A serious bite may have few early external signs.
- Do not remove a correctly applied bandage because the patient feels better. Hospital clinicians manage removal and observation.
- Do not chase the snake for a photograph or body. A description from a safe distance is enough if one is available.
What symptoms should you watch for?
A snake bite may leave two puncture marks, an indistinct scratch or little visible evidence. Local pain, bruising, swelling or bleeding may occur, but absence of swelling does not rule out venom exposure. Healthdirect describes possible systemic symptoms including nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, confusion, blurred vision, breathing difficulties, irregular heartbeat and weakness.
Some people may initially collapse and then seem to recover. This is not a reliable sign that the danger has passed. Report any collapse, fainting, change in vision, slurred speech, weakness or altered alertness immediately to the ambulance call-taker. Watch breathing rather than repeatedly asking the person to move a limb to test strength.
If the person becomes unresponsive and is not breathing normally, begin CPR as instructed by the ambulance call-taker. If an AED is available, have another person retrieve it and follow its prompts. Emergency resuscitation takes priority over perfecting a bandage when breathing has stopped.
What to do in common situations
Someone is bitten on a walking track
Stop walking. Help the patient lie down in a safe place away from the snake and call 000. Use the track name, nearest junction, park entrance, GPS position or a clearly identifiable landmark. Keep the patient still while an uninjured companion communicates with responders. Walking the patient back to the car can increase movement and risk.
A child is bitten while playing outside
Move the child out of the snake’s reach without creating more hazard, then keep them still in a comfortable supported position. Call 000, state the child’s age and symptoms, and follow dispatcher instructions for bandaging and observation. Avoid frightening statements about death or blaming the child. Adults should control the surrounding area to prevent a second bite.
The bite happens in a suburban garden
Do not assume a suburban snake is harmless. Snakes can be present around gardens, sheds, rockeries and stored materials. Keep children and pets indoors or safely away, and do not attempt to trap or handle the animal. Apply the same medical response to the bitten person and give the ambulance crew a precise street address.
The person is bitten while alone
Call 000 immediately if able, give your location first, then describe what happened. Keep movement minimal, lie down and follow any instructions you can perform safely. Do not drive yourself or hike out unless emergency responders specifically advise a course of action based on conditions. Where feasible, put your phone on speaker and stay connected.
Nobody saw a snake, but there are two puncture marks
The animal may not have been seen, and puncture appearance alone is not diagnostic. If there is a credible possibility of a snake bite, treat it as a suspected snake bite and call 000. Do not wait for a distinctive pattern of symptoms or ask the patient to walk around to see how they feel.
What happens at hospital?
Paramedics and doctors will monitor vital signs, examine symptoms, consider regional snake species and may use blood or other tests to assess for envenomation. Not every bite delivers venom and not every patient needs antivenom, but only professional monitoring can establish the appropriate course. Hospital care is still necessary even when the person currently feels well.
Tell clinicians the time of the incident, first symptoms, whether the patient moved after the bite, how and when pressure bandages were applied, any previous serious allergies and medications taken. The details are more valuable than an uncertain species guess.
Do not cut off the bandage or remove it when you arrive at hospital. Clinicians may want to control the timing and setting of removal. Your role is to preserve the treatment record and provide facts, not determine whether antivenom is required.
How to prepare before visiting bushland or parks
- Carry a charged phone, route details and a broad elasticised compression bandage when walking in snake habitat.
- Tell somebody where you are walking and when you expect to return.
- Wear enclosed boots and suitable long clothing in vegetated areas.
- Use a torch after dark and watch where you place hands and feet.
- Keep distance when you see a snake; allow it a path to retreat.
- Keep dogs under control and children away from hidden holes and dense brush.
- Know how to describe your position to emergency services, especially without a street address.
- Consider hands-on accredited first-aid training so pressure immobilisation and CPR are not new ideas during an emergency.
Frequently asked questions
Should I call 000 even when the snake looked small?
Yes. Visual identification and size do not reliably establish danger. Healthdirect advises treating suspected snake bites as medical emergencies.
Why should I avoid washing the bite?
Residual venom on the skin or clothing can help clinicians identify the relevant snake venom. Leave the site undisturbed until professionals advise otherwise.
Does a pressure bandage replace an ambulance?
No. It is temporary first aid used while obtaining urgent hospital care.
What if the person feels no pain?
A painless or barely visible bite can still need emergency assessment. Do not judge seriousness by pain alone.
Can I take a picture of the snake?
Only if a safe photograph is possible without approaching or delaying treatment. Identification is not worth risking another bite.
Can I remove the bandage after an hour?
No. Leave it in place and let treating clinicians manage removal.
Should I use the same technique for every sting and bite?
No. Australian first-aid recommendations vary for snakes, some spiders, jellyfish and other animals. Use the guidance specific to the animal when known; for suspected snake bite, follow the snake-bite procedure.
What to remember when speed matters
000. Stillness. Firm pressure bandage for a bitten limb. Immobilise. Do not wash. Do not capture the snake. Hospital care. With a genuine bite, immediate action matters more than reading every detail.
For another rapid-reference guide, see What to Do When Someone Is Choking in the United Kingdom.
Official guidance and source checks
Reviewed 4 November 2026. During a live emergency, follow emergency services and the latest official instructions. This independent guide is general information, not a diagnosis or a substitute for first-aid training.