Snake bites at school! How important is First Aid training for educators?

I read a Nine News article this morning that reported a student was bitten by a snake whilst waiting for her music class in Mandurah. The student was sitting outside her music class at Meadow Springs Primary School yesterday when she said she felt a tingling sensation on her leg.

This started me thinking about how often this would occur in our school system, so I went googling and to my surprise, it occurs more often than not.

19th September 2018 Nine News reported: “A Perth mother is warning others about knowing how to treat a snake bite after her daughter was bitten at school…. It is understood this isn’t the first snake bite to happen on the school’s grounds.”

11th July 2018 the Sunshine Coast Daily reported: “Paramedics were called to Stella Maris Catholic Primary School in Maroochydore at approximately 10.40am to reports of a snake bite.  A child has been transported to Sunshine Coast University hospital after a possible snake bite this morning.”

23rd April 2018 the Townsville Bulletin reported: “A 54-year-old man was transported to hospital in a stable condition after being bitten by an unidentified snake at a school this morning. Paramedics were called to Heatley Secondary College at 8.07am.”

The Institute of Education and Training (IOET) has provided First Aid training and CPR training to schools in Victoria and NSW.  A key topic in our First Aid training is how to recognise and provide first aid to people who have been bitten by a snake.

The Institute of Education and Training continue to provide purpose packaged snake bite kits to schools, industry and communities.

IOET Director, Mr Michael Maw, an Emergency Nurse Practitioner, has treated many snakebites in his career, both within the community setting and the hospital setting.

Michael believes it is important to have the correct First Aid kit to be able to provide the best first aid treatment you can. “Currently, many first aid kits do not have the best bandages available to correctly treat a snake bite effectively. It is important people undertake regular first aid training and keep up to date with the changes that occur over time in providing safe and effective first aid.”

Michael is the lead clinical adviser and trainer for all First Aid Training at the Institute of Education and Training. To book into a course with Michael, go to IOET website at www.ioet.com.au and click on the Register Now tab. This will take you to our upcoming First Aid and CPR Training courses. If you want to purchase IOETs specifically packaged Snake Bite kits go to our IOET website at www.ioet.com.au and click on our Shop tab.

Stay safe and keep your eyes open for snakes. This is the time of the year they are becoming active.

Be Prepared – Be Trained

Eddie