Two of the most common questions we get are versions of the same fear: "what if it's my child?" and "what if it's my dog?" The answers are different, and mixing them up wastes minutes you don't have.
A brown snake in the yard doesn't distinguish between your toddler, your kelpie and you. But the first aid does. This guide splits the two cleanly, because the worst time to work out the difference is while it's happening.
If a child is bitten
The first aid for a child follows the same ANZCOR guidance as for an adult. Call 000 immediately. Keep the child as still and calm as you can manage; being held works, and staying calm yourself is genuinely part of the treatment, because a panicking adult makes a moving child. Apply a firm elasticised pressure bandage starting at the fingers or toes of the bitten limb, working upward to cover as much of the limb as possible, including the bite site, over clothing as that's quicker. Firm means you can't easily slide a finger under it. Splint the limb across the joints either side and keep them at rest until the ambulance arrives.
Do not wash the bite site, don't cut it, don't suck it, and never use a tourniquet. Hospitals can use venom on the skin and clothing to help identify the snake, which is one more reason washing is the wrong instinct.
A child's limb is smaller, so the bandage covers more of it faster, and on small limbs your own judgement of "firm without cutting off circulation" matters even more. The SMART Bandage's printed indicators are designed for someone with standard muscle mass. For children with a lower muscle mass, stretch until just under a square. Every suspected bite in a child goes to hospital by ambulance, even if they seem completely fine. Symptoms can be delayed, and kids are not good historians about what happened.
One of our reviewers, Reannon, has lived this exact scenario: "I have had this kit for over a year. I actually had to use it as my daughter was bitten by a snake on holidays. So easy to use. The doctors and ambulance officers were so impressed with the first aid. I will be buying more!"
If a pet is bitten
The same principle applies to treating your dog, but keeping them immobilised can be much more difficult. Bandage your pet if you have the bandage with you and they remain still enough for you to apply it. Call the nearest vet, tell them you're coming with a suspected snake bite, and go. Phone first, because not every clinic stocks antivenom, and the right clinic 25 minutes away beats the wrong one 10 minutes away.
While you travel, keep the animal as calm and still as possible. If you live in an area with a high snake risk, it's worth having a cage that can keep them still for the journey. There are also snake avoidance training sessions available for you to complete with your dog.
Signs of snake bite in pets can include sudden weakness or collapse. Don't wait to be sure. With pets, the vet would always rather see a fine dog than a dead one.
What we will not do is publish a DIY pet treatment protocol, because we're not vets and your vet is a phone call away. That's also why our Pet First Aid KIT is built for the injuries you genuinely can help with (cuts, ticks, paws, wound care on the way to the vet). The smartest preparation of all is having your vet's number saved before you need it.
The setup that covers both
Families in snake country tell us the same thing in review after review: the kit only works if it's where the emergency is. A Snake Bite KIT at the house and one in the car covers the humans; the Pet First Aid KIT rides along for the four-legged family. Put the local vet's number and the after-hours emergency vet's number in your phone and on the fridge today. It's the single cheapest piece of snake season preparation there is.
SURVIVAL has been making first aid simple for Australian families since 1988. Trusted by over 100,000 Australians, 13,000+ five-star reviews, 30-day money-back guarantee.
More on snake bite first aid: snake safety on rural properties and the evidence on pressure bandages.
Frequently asked questions
Is snake bite first aid different for children? The technique is the same ANZCOR guidance as for adults: 000, stillness, firm pressure bandage up the limb and splint. The difference is that anyone with a low muscle mass including children will require slightly less tension, so stretch the bandage to just under a square.
What do I do if my dog is bitten by a snake? Call the nearest vet immediately, confirm they can treat snake bite, and transport your pet there keeping it as calm and still as possible. A SMART Bandage can be used to help with immobilisation.
Should I wash a snake bite? No. Venom traces on skin or clothing can help identify the snake at hospital.
Sources
ANZCOR Guidelines 9.4.1 and 9.4.8 (human first aid). Pet section deliberately cites no treatment protocol and directs to veterinary care. Customer quote: verified Okendo review, reproduced verbatim.