MANDURAH MAIL (Australia) 12 January 06 Snake scare (Amanda Haines)
A North Dandalup mother is lucky to be alive after being bitten by a tiger snake on her property two days after Christmas.
Sarah, who didn't want her sirname published, said she should have known something was wrong sooner.
"All the animals were behaving strangely and the geese wouldn't go near their water dish," she said.
It was while walking barefoot near the water dish that Sarah felt something sharp.
"I thought I'd trodden on barbed wire – it didn't really hurt, what hurt was what came afterwards."
Not knowing she had been bitten on the toe by a snake, Sarah walked back to her house.
"That was the worst thing I could do," she said.
"Because I was moving around, the venom went right through my body."
The rapid onset of symptoms followed.
"I had a splitting headache, the worst I've ever had in my life, and I could see my heart in my chest, it was pumping that hard," she said.
"I couldn't feel my left arm and thought I was having a heart attack.
"My hearing started to go, then my vision, and I had just said to my Mum 'I think something's wrong,' when I passed out."
Sarah's husband rushed her towards Peel Health Campus and was intercepted by an ambulance on the way.
With Sarah's throat closing up, she was put on breathing apparatus while the ambulance officers bandaged and immobilised her leg.
It wasn't until tests were done at Peel that doctors realised Sarah had in fact been bitten by a tiger snake.
After being given antivenom she was sent to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.
"Being given the antivenom was like being bitten all over again - my heart was playing tricks and I thought my head was going to explode," Sarah said.
"As my blood wouldn't coagulate I had to be given six doses."
It was while she was at SCGH that Sarah found out how lucky she was.
"The staff were hanging around after their shifts had ended, just to see what was happening to me," Sarah said.
"I couldn't work out what the big deal was - I thought snake bites happened all the time, but apparently there are only about three snakebite cases in WA each year and, of those, only one in 10 is venomised.
"They said most people bitten by tiger snakes don't make it, as they are incredibly venomous."
Sarah attributed her survival to the care she received at Peel Health Campus.
"All the staff were brilliant and, as busy as they were, they were wonderful to me," she said.
"I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them - Peel Health Campus saved my life."
Conservation and Land Management wildlife officer Pauline Southgate said while venomous snakes such as the dugite and tiger snake were common in the Peel region, it was best to leave the removal of snakes to an expert.
"A lot of people are bitten while trying to catch or kill a snake, so it really is best to leave them alone," she said.
"There are also a lot of non-venomous snakes and legless lizards around that pose no danger to anyone, but may be mistaken for venomous snakes."
If a snake is found in a garden or residence, contact the Wildcare Helpline on 9474 9055 for information on reptile removers in the local area
Snake scare