You should always provide emergency care if you or someone else is bitten by a snake — including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), if required. Snake bites should be medically assessed and treated even if the person who was bitten seems well. Keep calm, and follow these steps: Get the person away from the snake. Ensure they rest and help them to stay calm. Follow the steps of basic first aid — DRSABCD. Call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance. If calling triple zero does not work on your mobile phone, try calling 112. Apply a pressure immobilisation bandage (see below). If you can’t use a pressure immobilisation bandage because the bite is on the stomach or back, apply constant, firm pressure. Things you SHOULD NOT do: Do not wash the bite area — venom left on the skin and clothing can help identify the snake. Do not apply a tourniquet (a strap to stop blood flow) Do not cut the wound Do not try to suck the venom (poison) out. St John Ambulance Australia has a quick guide to the first aid management of snake bites. The Australian Red Cross also has a handy guide on how to treat them. Pressure immobilisation bandage A pressure immobilisation bandage is recommended for anyone bitten by a venomous snake. You should firmly bandage the area of the body involved (such as an arm or leg), and keep the person calm and still until medical help arrives. Follow these steps to apply a pressure immobilisation bandage: First, put a pressure bandage over the bite itself. It should be tight — you should not be able to easily slide a finger between the bandage and the skin. Next, use a heavy crepe or elasticised roller bandage to immobilise the whole limb. Start just above the fingers or toes of the bitten limb and move upwards on the limb as far as the body. Splint the limb including joints on either side of the bite. Keep the person and the limb completely at rest. If possible, mark the site of the bite on the bandage with a pen. St John Ambulance Australia's first aid fact sheet includes information on pressure immobilisation bandages. Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) Rarely, some people have a severe allergic reaction to being bitten by a snake. The reaction can happen within minutes and lead to anaphylactic shock (anaphylaxis). Anaphylactic shock is very serious and can be fatal. Symptoms of anaphylactic shock include: difficult or noisy breathing difficulty talking and/or a hoarse voice a swollen tongue persistent dizziness or collapse swelling or tightness in the throat being pale and floppy (young children) wheeze or persistent cough If you or someone near you has symptoms of anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction), call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance. If you have access to an adrenaline autoinjector (EpiPen or Anapen), use it, and continue to follow the steps of an ASCIA allergy action plan, if one is available. For more information on anaphylaxis and an ASCIA allergy action plans, visit the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) website. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) In some cases, the person bitten by the snake may need cardiopulmonary resuscitation. See healthdirect’s page on how to perform CPR for more information. St John Ambulance Australia has a printable poster on first aid resuscitation procedures.