Antivenoms

[Quakefire]

Howdy,

I was watching TV, and while the show was in Australia they were dealing with brown snakes which can kill in 14 minutes. If you figure in a standard response time say 7-9 minutes do any of my warmer climate brethren carry some form of antivenom for snakes or spiders? And what determines there use? In Saskatchewan as far as I know we have no venomous snakes or spiders, I know in at least one area of BC they have rattlesnakes so I don't really have any experience in this area

[Bieber]

I'm gonna guess probably not. It's not a real common thing around here so I know we don't, but I've never heard of any EMS services carrying antivenom. I think it's frequently EXTREMELY expensive... like tens of thousands of dollars per treatment... but I'm not that up to date on it. Hopefully someone else can come along with more knowledge on this subject than me.

[chbare]

Antivenom treatment is very expensive and highly specific. For example, the crofab that is reasonably effective for pit vipers in the United States is completely ineffective against inland taipan venom in Australia. In fact, Australia has multiple types of deadly snakes to worry about. Therefore, you would need to carry multiple types of antivenom and would need climate control resources in many cases. Next, you would need to effectively identify the venom in the field without the benefit of specialists and technology. Finally, antivenom is not benign and can be associated with many risks and side effects. In conclusion, the logistics, education and specialty knowledge required to have an effective prehospital programme of consistently using antivenom in the field does not appear to be best practice IMHO. I could be wrong as my knowledge of the Australian EMS system is limited; however, this is certainly the case with crofab in the United States where it's potential benefits and significant side effects and cost are notable concerns.

[island emt]

When I was stationed in Western Australia, the incoming staff were given two days of intro to OZ. The bugs spiders & snake lectures basically stated that all but a couple of the snakes were poisonous or deadly, many of the spiders have nasty venom and so did many of the bugs. Stay away from them.

Then there were the dangers of the different species in the ocean from great whites to sea snakes and pufferfish.

The second day was spent teaching us about the grate Aussie beers and how they were much stronger than we yanks were used to. there was a test on the beers

I preferred Swan lager or KB

[craig]

When I was stationed in Western Australia, the incoming staff were given two days of intro to OZ. The bugs spiders & snake lectures basically stated that all but a couple of the snakes were poisonous or deadly, many of the spiders have nasty venom and so did many of the bugs. Stay away from them.

Then there were the dangers of the different species in the ocean from great whites to sea snakes and pufferfish.

The second day was spent teaching us about the grate Aussie beers and how they were much stronger than we yanks were used to. there was a test on the beers

I preferred Swan lager or KB

bug, spiders and snakes..........day to day dealing....lol

and just goes to show the tastes you yanks are use to...Bloody KB........no self respecting aussie would..........same goes for fosters

and for the record we dont carry antivenom, not worth the hassell, has to be refridgerated etc...so many different kinds but you can get a multi spectrum one (not as effective, but good if you dont know what type of snake),,,,besides not that often us aussies get bitten.....

for the record we have a spider here, that you guys call a black widow (we call it a red back) that we just treat with an ice pack and watch the patient.....

hope this helps

[island emt]

Craig: KB & swan lager were the two that we had available to us out in Exmouth WA.

Back then very few folks even in Oz knew where it was. Now it's a world class diving resort

I did try many other wonderful brews when on holiday in Perth.

The bugs & spiders just became part of daily life when you got to know them. The flies however were quite tasty for 5 months a year. they were everywhere. couldn't get in a meal without eating a few.

Edited October 22, 2012 by island emt

[craig]

Craig: KB & swan lager were the two that we had available to us out in Exmouth WA.

Back then very few folks even in Oz knew where it was. Now it's a world class diving resort

I did try many other wonderful brews when on holiday in Perth.

The bugs & spiders just became part of daily life when you got to know them. The flies however were quite tasty for 5 months a year. they were everywhere. couldn't get in a meal without eating a few.

flies are not that bad are they ........wouldn't be an aussie bbq if you didnt swallow a couple.........try playing cricket with them...

[island emt]

I played Footie while I was there with the townies team. That is one brutal sport.

We just figured the flies were added protein ::: and a good reason to drink more beer to wash them down.

[cprted]

Howdy,

I was watching TV, and while the show was in Australia they were dealing with brown snakes which can kill in 14 minutes. If you figure in a standard response time say 7-9 minutes do any of my warmer climate brethren carry some form of antivenom for snakes or spiders? And what determines there use? In Saskatchewan as far as I know we have no venomous snakes or spiders, I know in at least one area of BC they have rattlesnakes so I don't really have any experience in this area

As far as BC goes, Penticton Regional Hospital keeps 2-3 doses of anti-venom (for rattlesnakes) in stock but South Okanagan General (Oliver) and Keremeos D&T do not. We don't carry anything specific to snake bites on car. Like others have said, anti-venom is expensive and has a short shelf life. We don't get that many snake bites. Maybe one or two per year.

[craig]

I played Footie while I was there with the townies team. That is one brutal sport.

We just figured the flies were added protein ::: and a good reason to drink more beer to wash them down.

so when you say footy....you mean aussie rules?.......play league or union...even harder and no helmets of big plastic padding