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Please note: The Pressure Immobilisation
method is recommended only for Funnel Web Spider bites and specifically
recommended against for Red Back Spiders. Please see the treatment for
Red Back bite below.
Also check out my other page on
spider bite treatment for more information!!
The old methods of treating bite and stings are now discouraged by the medical
profession as often they only increase and spread pain. The
pressure/immobilisation method is now widely used as a simple and effective way of slowing
the spread of poison throughout the body. This method involves placing a firm but not
tight, bandage along the entire limb that has been bitten or stung. This compresses the
tissues, thus reducing the flow of venom along the limbs. Quite often the venom will be
trapped exactly where it enters the body.
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The
patient should be kept calm and rested; all undue movement should be avoided. The
pressure/immobilisation bandage should be applied. If the bite is on a limb, the bandage
should start at the bite site, work down to the fingers or toes, then back to the armpit
or groin. |
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If it is necessary to improvise for the bandages, strips
of clothing or pantyhose could be used. A splint should then be
applied to immobilise the limb. This is run along the affected limb,
and bandaged to it, after the pressure bandages have been applied. |
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Medical aid should then be sought and it is better to send for an ambulance
rather than attempt to transport the victim.
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| FUNNEL-WEB SPIDER
 The Funnel-web Spider is the cause of much anxiety along the east coast of new
South Wales. Many people still believe that a bite from this creature means death within
minutes. This is quite wrong. Many people also believe that the larger female of the
species is more deadly; in fact it is the male that is more dangerous. But as long as the
pressure/immobilisation method is applied, in the same manner as for snake bite, the
chances of death are very slight.
Unlike snake bites, the casualty usually feels great pain at the site of the
bite. Nausea and abdominal pain follow. The casualty will also experience difficulty in
breathing and a general weakness or numbness of the muscles.
The body also secretes heavily in several areas. Profuse sweating is usually
obvious, along with excessive saliva production. Heavy coughing, producing secretions is
common.
Now that all major hospitals in 'funnel-web country' carry an effective
antivenin, there is little risk of death resulting from a bite. Once
pressure/immobilisation method has been applied, medical aid should be sought immediately.
A few days in hospital is the usual outcome with no lasting damage.
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| RED-BACK SPIDER
 As the venom of the Red Back Spider moves very slowly, any attempt to restrict
its progress would only serve to increase the associated pain. No restrictive bandage
should be applied. The fangs of this spider are quite small and its bite may often go
unnoticed, but often a sharp pinprick may be felt. This is followed by pain at the
site of the bite, leading to more general pain. Other symptoms include nausea, dizziness
and partial loss of muscle control.
Sweating occurs in varying degrees, and is sometimes apparent around the site
of the bite. Swelling of the affected area is common, as is a quickening of the heartbeat.
As with other bites, the victim should be kept calm and reassured.
The only first aid recommended is to apply a cold compress to the wound, this
may take the form of iced water in a plastic bag. The wound should under no
circumstances be frozen. Where possible, take the spider to hospital for
identification. Medical aid should be sought immediately. Most hospitals carry
an effective antivenin for the Red Back Spider.
Latest news is that the male Red Back has now hospitalised people after being
bitten!!
Information
and pictures were taken from children's projects and where credited to
that child does not claim to be original information. Where possible,
permission to reproduce has been sought. Any infringement of copyright
is purely unintentional.
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