Australian quick reference
Snake, spider and animal bites
Australian first-aid guidance for bites, including when to use pressure immobilisation.
The short answer
Treat every suspected Australian snake bite and funnel-web spider bite as an emergency: call 000, keep the person completely still and apply pressure immobilisation when indicated. The same technique is used for suspected blue-ringed octopus, cone shell and sea snake envenomation. Do not wash, cut, suck or tourniquet the bite.
Species and stillness matter
Which bite pathway applies?
Call Triple Zero (000) for suspected venomous bites or serious symptoms. Keep the person still and use pressure immobilisation only for the Australian species and situations where it is recommended.
| What you find | Do next |
|---|---|
| Snake, funnel-web, blue-ringed or cone shell | Call 000, keep the person completely still and apply pressure immobilisation to a limb: bandage over the bite, then from fingers or toes upwards, splint and do not remove it. |
| Other spider bite | Do not use pressure immobilisation. Keep watching the person; use a cold compress for pain and arrange medical care, especially for a young child, severe pain, collapse or serious symptoms. |
| Marine bite or sting | Do not guess the treatment or use pressure immobilisation for jellyfish or fish stings. Follow the local species pathway and call 000 for blue-ringed octopus, sea snake, cone shell, tropical stinger, collapse or breathing problems. |
| Bite is not on a limb | Call 000 and keep the person still. Firm direct pressure may help, but never restrict breathing or apply firm pressure to the head, neck or chest. |
| Unresponsive or not breathing normally | Start CPR and follow 000 immediately; resuscitation takes priority over pressure immobilisation. Do not catch the animal or make the person walk. |
Four things to remember
See the next decision
These visual cues are a memory aid. In a real emergency, call Triple Zero (000) and follow the call-taker's instructions.
Move away from the animal and call 000 for a suspected snake, funnel-web spider, blue-ringed octopus, cone shell or sea snake bite, or for serious symptoms.
Snake or funnel-web spider bites may be painless or leave little visible damage.
Do not wash, cut, excise or suck a suspected venomous bite.
Call 000 for any suspected snake, funnel-web spider, blue-ringed octopus, cone shell or sea snake bite, or for breathing difficulty, collapse, paralysis, severe pain, rapidly worsening symptoms or anaphylaxis.
Illustrated field notes
See the situation, then choose the next safe action
These original illustrations support recall. They are not a substitute for the written steps, a current first-aid course or the Triple Zero (000) call-taker.
Visual memory cue
See the pattern before you practise
Use this simple visual reminder alongside the written steps. In a real emergency, call Triple Zero (000) and follow the call-taker's instructions.
01
What to do first
- Move away from the animal and call 000 for a suspected snake, funnel-web spider, blue-ringed octopus, cone shell or sea snake bite, or for serious symptoms.
- Keep the person calm and completely still. Bring the ambulance to them and do not let them walk. Do not try to catch or handle the animal; a photo is optional only if safe and it must not delay care.
- For a suspected venomous limb bite, apply a broad pressure bandage over the bite, then a second firm bandage from the fingers or toes upwards. Splint the limb and keep it still; mark the bite and bandage time if possible.
- For a non-limb bite, firm direct pressure may help, but do not restrict breathing or apply pressure to the head, neck or chest. If resuscitation is needed, CPR takes priority.
- For other spider or marine bites and stings, do not assume pressure immobilisation is correct. Follow the species and location-specific pathway, use the blue-ringed article when relevant and seek urgent care for severe symptoms.
02
What to avoid
- Do not wash, cut, excise or suck a suspected venomous bite.
- Do not apply an arterial tourniquet.
- Do not make the person walk or remove the pressure bandage or splint while waiting for hospital care.
- Do not catch, kill or handle the animal.
- Do not use pressure immobilisation for redback or other non-funnel-web spider bites, jellyfish, fish, scorpion, centipede or beetle stings.
03
When to call 000
- Call 000 for any suspected snake, funnel-web spider, blue-ringed octopus, cone shell or sea snake bite, or for breathing difficulty, collapse, paralysis, severe pain, rapidly worsening symptoms or anaphylaxis.
04
What to monitor
- Keep the person and bandaged limb still under constant observation. If unresponsive and not breathing normally, remove delay to CPR and follow the 000 call-taker.
Recognition cues
What you may notice
- Snake or funnel-web spider bites may be painless or leave little visible damage.
- Blue-ringed octopus bites can be painless; numbness around the mouth, tight chest, weakness or breathing trouble may follow.
- Venom effects can include sweating, nausea, weakness, tingling, paralysis, breathing difficulty or collapse.
- The person may deteriorate while appearing well at first, so do not wait for symptoms before calling 000.
Avoid these traps
Common mistakes
- Washing, cutting, excising or sucking a suspected venomous bite.
- Applying a tourniquet or using pressure immobilisation for redback, jellyfish or fish stings.
- Letting the person walk for help or removing a bandage or splint while waiting.
- Trying to catch or handle the animal.
- Treating all spider and marine bites as if they need the same first aid.
Children need the same emergency pathway, with pressure bandages and splints sized to the limb. A suspected venomous bite may look small or painless; keep the child still and call 000 rather than waiting for symptoms.
When help is on the way
Keep the handover useful
- Keep the person and bandaged limb still under constant observation, and do not remove the pressure bandage or splint before hospital care.
- Tell responders the time, location, suspected animal, bite site and bandage time without trying to catch the animal.
- If the person becomes unresponsive and is not breathing normally, start CPR immediately; CPR takes priority over pressure immobilisation.
Common questions
Quick answers
Which bites and stings need pressure immobilisation?
Use it for all Australian venomous snake bites, funnel-web spiders, blue-ringed octopus and cone shells. It is not recommended for redback or other spider bites, jellyfish, fish, scorpion, centipede or beetle stings.
Should I wash a snake bite?
No. Do not wash, cut or suck the bite, apply a tourniquet or try to catch the snake. Call 000, keep the person still and apply pressure immobilisation.
What if the bite is not on an arm or leg?
Call 000 and keep the person still. Firm direct pressure may help on a non-limb bite, but never restrict breathing or apply firm pressure to the head, neck or chest.
What about a blue-ringed octopus bite?
Call 000 immediately even if the bite is painless or hard to see. Apply pressure immobilisation to a limb when possible, keep the person still and use CPR if needed.
Which bites and stings need pressure immobilisation?
Use it for all Australian venomous snake bites, funnel-web spiders, blue-ringed octopus and cone shells. It is not recommended for redback or other spider bites, jellyfish, fish, scorpion, centipede or beetle stings.
Should I wash a suspected snake bite?
No. Do not wash, cut or suck the bite, apply a tourniquet or try to catch the snake. Call 000, keep the person still and apply pressure immobilisation.
What if the bite is painless?
Treat a suspected venomous bite as an emergency even if the skin looks normal or the bite is painless. This includes blue-ringed octopus bites.
What about a blue-ringed octopus bite?
Call 000 immediately, apply pressure immobilisation to a limb when possible, keep the person still and use CPR if needed. Open the species-specific blue-ringed octopus guide for the full response.
Australian marine emergency
Need species-specific steps?
A suspected blue-ringed octopus bite needs immediate action even when the bite is painless or hard to see.
Rebuilt the opening around a species-aware decision tree: Australian pressure immobilisation boundaries, stillness, non-limb cautions, spider and marine exceptions, blue-ringed article handoff and 000/CPR escalation against current Australian guidance.