The Flying Doctor

#111 A swag of snake stories to keep you safe this summer

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Episode notes

Whether you love them or loathe them, there's no denying that snakes are an inevitable part of life in regional Australia - particularly if you live in or around our beautiful bushlands. But what would YOU do if you - or someone you were with - were to suffer a suspected snake bite? And what happens if you're hundreds of kilometers from help or emergency advice?

Over a one-year period (as part of a larger, three-year study) the RFDS (Western Operations) found that 85 people from regional, rural, remote and very remote Western Australia were flown by Royal Flying Doctor Service to hospital for suspected or confirmed snake bites. While only five of these patients (6%) ultimately received a toxicologist’s diagnosis of envenomation, the research showed just how challenging a remote or regional 'suspected snake bite' scenario can be. Dr Hamish Bradley is an adjunct Lecturer, Anaesthetist and Aeromedical Retrieval Specialist and he's pretty passionate about keeping us all just a little bit safer this snake season!

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