It's that season where our slithery and crawly friends are seen more often.  Australia is home to some of the world’s most venomous snakes and spiders.  It is important to take care when out and about. 

Identifying spiders and snakes in the wild is tough, you should treat all bites as serious.  Call Triple Zero (000) immediately for a snake bite or any bite from a big, black spider.   

Applying a pressure bandage after a snake or spider bite can make a big difference to the health outcome. 

If your child is bitten by a big black spider or a snake:

1. Call Triple Zero (000) 
2. Keep your child still 
3. Find something stretchy, like an elastic bandage or sock 
4. Wrap the entire limb firmly and work your way upwards - fingers to shoulder or toes to hip 
5. Use something rigid like a branch to keep it straight 
6. Keep calm and still until the ambulance arrives.  

Learn more about how to keep children safe from bites and stings by visiting our Outdoor safety – Bites and stings page. 

See our factsheets on Snake bites and Spider bites for information on signs and symptoms, treatment and management. 

If you think your child has been bitten by a spider call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26.