RACQ Life Flight released an image of the snake discovered in the woman's bed. Photo: RACQ LIfe Flight
A woman bitten by a snake in her own bed is recovering in hospital after a dramatic airlift from a remote Queensland property.
The woman in her 20s is believed she was attacked by an eastern brown, the world’s second-most venomous snake behind the Australian inland taipan, on the Western Downs about 1am on Friday.
Queensland Ambulance Service officer Emily Mildred told the ABC the woman experienced nausea and vomiting, and was assessed by its clinical hub while on the phone to 000 operators.
“It was a really good insight for our crews heading out there,” Mildred said.
“Our crews were able to take out some anti-venom,” she added.
The woman’s family applied bandages to the bite before an ambulance arrived and paramedics administered anti-venom.
She was to Toowoomba Hospital in a stable condition by an RACQ Life Flight helicopter.
Neurotoxin, one ingredient among the many of poisons contained within the eastern brown snake, can paralyse the nerves of the heart, lungs and diaphragm, causing rapid asphyxiation.
Australia has some 100 venomous types of snakes, but fatal bites are very rare.
“We do have extremely toxic snakes here, but realistically we need to keep it in perspective,” Associate Professor Bryan Fry from the University of Queensland’s School of the Environment told The New Daily in September.
“Of course, it’s an absolute tragedy but on an average year in Australia only one or two people die,” Fry said.
Fry said snaked will generally not attack humans unless they feel the need to be defensive.
If you’re more than two metres away from the snake, keep that distance and know you’re not in any harm.
Your first instinct might be to run away in the opposite direction, however, it’s best to fight that urge.
Any snake bite should be treated as though it is life threatening and medical attention should be sought immediately, even if the victim appears to be fine.
Australian Red Cross says there are a few first-aid steps that should be taken in the event of a snake bite.
There are two different types of snake bites – dry bites and venomous bites.
Dry bites are when no venom is released, but swelling can still occur.
Even with a dry bite, you should still consult a doctor.
Anti-venom likely won’t be prescribed, but it is still better to be safe.
-with AAP
