SNAKE SAFETY CHECKLIST — GREY NOMADS & VANLIFERS
Print this page and tick each item before you travel.


FIRST AID KNOWLEDGE
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[ ] Know the first aid steps for ALL Australian snake bites:
      • Use the Pressure Immobilisation Technique (PIT)
      • Apply a broad elastic bandage firmly from toes/fingers upward
      • Cover the entire limb with firm, even pressure
      • Splint the limb to stop all movement
      • Keep the victim still and calm
      • Call 000 immediately

[ ] Understand why PIT works:
      • Snake venom spreads through the lymphatic system
      • Muscle movement accelerates venom spread
      • PIT slows venom movement and buys critical time

[ ] Know what NOT to do:
      • Do NOT wash the bite site (venom on skin helps identify species)
      • Do NOT cut the wound or suck out venom
      • Do NOT apply a tourniquet
      • Do NOT try to catch or kill the snake
      • Do NOT assume it was a dry bite
      • Do NOT remove the bandage until at hospital


FIRST AID KIT ITEMS
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[ ] Carry 3 x broad elastic bandages (10–15 cm wide)
[ ] Carry a rigid splint (or use a walking stick/tent pole)
[ ] Keep bandages and splint together in your first aid kit
[ ] Keep a charged phone accessible for calling 000
[ ] Save emergency numbers before travelling


CAMP SAFETY HABITS
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[ ] Wear closed shoes at dusk and after dark
[ ] Use a headlamp or torch for night toilet walks
[ ] Check under the van each morning with a torch
[ ] Tap storage bays before opening
[ ] Check the annexe floor before stepping in barefoot
[ ] Avoid walking in long grass, especially near water
[ ] Stick to cleared paths when birding or exploring creeks/wetlands
[ ] Step onto logs before stepping over them
[ ] Never reach into firewood piles without gloves or a tool
[ ] Keep camp tidy to reduce hiding spots
[ ] Keep rubbish sealed to avoid attracting rodents (snake food)


EMERGENCY READINESS
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[ ] Know your exact location (GPS) before calling 000
[ ] Keep the victim still and lying flat during an emergency
[ ] Bring transport to the victim — do NOT walk them out
[ ] Keep this checklist laminated in your first aid kit

Emergency in Australia Call Triple 000 

Snake Bite Victim "AGE" 

Saying “the patient is over 60” helps the 000 operator prioritise the response and this prioritizes what questions to ask next. You’re not giving a diagnosis — you’re giving them the context they need so they can dispatch help appropriately and quickly. 000 Emergency operators don’t treat all callers the same — they triage based on risk factors, and age is one of them.