Outdoor Safety

Quick guide to first aid management

Pressure immobilisation

Funnel-web and Mouse spiders, Snakes, Blue-ringed octopus, Coneshells, Sea snakes

1. Follow DRSABCD
2. Calm patient and keep still.
3. Apply a pressure immobilisation bandage
4. Ensure call for ambulance has been made – triple zero (000).

Cold compress (ice pack)

Bees, Wasps (European), Ants, Ticks, Scorpions, Centipedes, Red-backed spider, All other spiders

1. Apply a cold compress or ice pack directly over the bite site to relieve the pain.
2. Seek medical aid if necessary.

Hot water

Blue-bottle (Pacific Man-O-War) jellyfish, Bullrout fish, Catfish, Crown-of-Thomas starfish, Stingray, Stonefish, Non-tropical minor jellyfish

1. Follow DRSABCD
2. Calm patient.
3. Place patient’s stung limb in hot water (as hot as you, the first aider, can tolerate).
4. Ensure call for ambulance has been made – triple zero (000).

Vinegar

Box jellyfish, Irukandji jellyfish, Sea anenomes, Tropical marine stings of unknown origin

1. Follow DRSSBCD
2. Calm patient.
3. Flood stung area with vinegar for at least 30 seconds.
4. If vinegar not available, flick tentacles off using a stick or gloved fingers.
5. Ensure call for ambulance has been made – triple zero (000).