Photo by Michael Marston - Department of Emergency Services ...

Aero-medical resources critical
for envenomation responses
It is no secret that Australia has a
reputation for its deadly snakes,
spiders and marine stingers, yet in
reality, the number of casualties caused
by these venomous creatures is low.
On average, one or two people annually
die from snake bites across the country,
despite the fact that more than 3000
bites are recorded each year.
The incidence of marine envenomations
is even lower, despite the popularity of
Australia’s world-famous beaches.
Just a handful of deaths from stingrays
have been recorded in Australia, while 68
deaths have been caused by box jellyfish
since 1883, and just two by Irukandji.
However, despite this low rate, the vast
physical size of Queensland means that
a bite or sting in a rural or remote area
can be life-threatening, and requires
urgent action.
“Most snake bites, with correct first
aid, are survivable. A rapid medical
response will increase the chances,
but correct identification and the
administration of antivenom are
critical,” Queensland Ambulance
Service Chief Medical Director
Stephen Rashford said.
To help emergency services providers
respond swiftly to such incidents,
the State relies on the Queensland
Emergency Medical System (QEMS)
– an integrated and coordinated
system of care for the acutely ill and
injured, with access to 17 aero-medical
resources spread across the State.
With 18 pilots, 16 aircrew officers, 15
rescue crew officers, four engineers and
four admin staff, EMQ Rescue is one of
the most sophisticated, well-resourced
services, providing state-of-the-art
equipment and medical care
across Queensland.
This network of helicopters is activated
regularly to retrieve Queenslanders that
have been bitten by some of the world’s
deadliest creatures.
So when a two-year-old presents in
the Atherton Tablelands with a severe
headache, nausea, unusual scratch
marks on her left leg and localised
bleeding, the response is activated
via the QEMS Coordination Centre
at Spring Hill in Brisbane.
Her condition is monitored at the
Mareeba Base Hospital, samples
from the bite site are analysed using
the highly accurate Venom Detection
Kit and doctors determine she has
been struck by a King Brown, one of
Australia’s most common snakes.
16 EMERGENCY October 2006 www.emergency.qld.gov.au