AMBULANCE MATTERS
In what is to become a regular item, your Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) staff will keep you up to date with what is going on at the Dayboro Ambulance Station and highlight some topical issues for you to be aware of.Slithery Season
At this time of year some of you may receive unwelcome visitors to your property in the form of snakes. It is important to avoid direct contact with snakes unless it is unavoidable. More people get bitten trying to kill or move snakes than by aggression from a snake that is not interfered with. All snake bites are potentially dangerous and if bitten you should call for an ambulance via 000. Living in an area where snakes are relatively common, it is a good idea to become familiar with the various types of snake. There are good resources on the Internet or through books and other publications. It would be good to have an idea of what the different breeds look like before you need to attempt identification of a snake that has bitten you or someone else.
If someone is bitten, try to get them to stay calm (yes we know that is not easy) and move them or have them move as little as possible. Call 000 for an Ambulance, giving as much important information as you can when prompted to by the call taker, including whereabouts on the property the patient is located. If able, have someone meet the arriving Ambulance to direct them to the patient. Do not risk another bite to yourself or someone else by trying to catch or identify the snake. Do not wash the area as the hospital can take a swab from the bite and identify the breed from that. Do not cut or try to suck out the poison. If you know how to, you can apply a compression bandage and splint the limb. However the most important thing is to keep movement of the patient to the minimum, as movement is what mobilises the venom around the body.
To learn how to apply compression bandages and many other useful First Aid skills that could potentially save someone’s life…….How about doing a First Aid Course? The Queensland Ambulance Service runs regular First Aid Courses of all levels and at various locations throughout Brisbane and Queensland. For more information on completing a First Aid Course you can phone 1300 369 003 or visit our website www.ambulance.qld.gov.au and go to the First Aid link.
Joanne and myself, on behalf of the QAS, would personally like to thank all of the members of the Dayboro First Responder Group for the commitment, time and effort they put in to provide such an important community service to the residents and visitors of the Dayboro district and surrounding areas.
If someone is bitten, try to get them to stay calm (yes we know that is not easy) and move them or have them move as little as possible. Call 000 for an Ambulance, giving as much important information as you can when prompted to by the call taker, including whereabouts on the property the patient is located. If able, have someone meet the arriving Ambulance to direct them to the patient. Do not risk another bite to yourself or someone else by trying to catch or identify the snake. Do not wash the area as the hospital can take a swab from the bite and identify the breed from that. Do not cut or try to suck out the poison. If you know how to, you can apply a compression bandage and splint the limb. However the most important thing is to keep movement of the patient to the minimum, as movement is what mobilises the venom around the body.
To learn how to apply compression bandages and many other useful First Aid skills that could potentially save someone’s life…….How about doing a First Aid Course? The Queensland Ambulance Service runs regular First Aid Courses of all levels and at various locations throughout Brisbane and Queensland. For more information on completing a First Aid Course you can phone 1300 369 003 or visit our website www.ambulance.qld.gov.au and go to the First Aid link.
Joanne and myself, on behalf of the QAS, would personally like to thank all of the members of the Dayboro First Responder Group for the commitment, time and effort they put in to provide such an important community service to the residents and visitors of the Dayboro district and surrounding areas.
