Funnel-web and redback bites need opposite first aid. A funnel-web bite needs a pressure immobilisation bandage. A redback bite must not have one. Getting this the wrong way round makes things worse, so the first job is working out which you are dealing with.
Only two Australian spiders are considered dangerous to people
The NSW Poisons Information Centre is direct about it: of all the spiders in Australia, the funnel-web (and its close relative the mouse spider) and the redback are the ones that cause harm to humans.
If you cannot identify the spider but it is large, dark and black, treat it as a funnel-web. That is the safe direction to be wrong in.
Funnel-web or mouse spider — pressure immobilisation, and call 000
- Call 000. This is a medical emergency.
- Lie the person down and keep them still. Stillness slows the venom more than anything else you can do.
- Bandage over the bite. Use an elasticated roller bandage 10 to 15 cm wide.
- Bandage the whole limb. With a second bandage, start just above the fingers or toes and work up toward the body. Firm, but not so tight that it cuts off circulation.
- Splint the limb so it cannot move.
- Mark the bite site on the bandage with a pen, or photograph it first, and write down the time of the bite and of the bandage.
- Wait with them until the ambulance arrives.
This is the same pressure immobilisation technique used for snake bite.
Signs to expect: severe pain at the bite, heavy sweating, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, drooling, muscle twitching, numbness around the mouth and tongue, difficulty breathing, confusion that can progress to unconsciousness.
Redback — cold pack, and do not bandage
- Do not apply a pressure bandage. The NSW Poisons Information Centre states this plainly, and Healthdirect adds that an immobilisation bandage is only for funnel-web or mouse spider bites.
- Wash the area with soap and water and keep it clean.
- Apply a cold pack for about 15 minutes to ease the pain. Wrap it in a cloth rather than putting ice straight on the skin.
- Call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 for advice.
- Go to hospital if the pain is severe or getting worse. Antivenom exists and the emergency department decides whether it is needed.
Signs to expect: pain at the bite that often worsens over hours, sweating, headache, muscle weakness or spasms. Redback bites are rarely life-threatening to a healthy adult, but the pain can be severe and it is worth getting assessed.
Other spiders
For any other spider bite: wash the area, apply a cold pack for the pain, and keep an eye on it. Call 13 11 26 if you are worried or if symptoms develop. You do not need to catch the spider.
If the person has an allergic reaction
Any bite or sting can trigger anaphylaxis in someone who is sensitised. Difficult or noisy breathing, swelling of the tongue or throat, persistent dizziness or collapse, or a young child going pale and floppy — call 000 and give an adrenaline device if one is available. See how to use an EpiPen.
If the person becomes unresponsive and is not breathing normally, start CPR — see the DRSABCD action plan.
Two numbers worth saving
- 000 — funnel-web or mouse spider bite, or any allergic reaction
- 13 11 26 — Poisons Information Centre, for everything else
This is a summary of what is taught in class, not a substitute for training. Skills like this are assessed practically for a reason — reading about them is not the same as having done them. In a real emergency, call 000.
Learn it properly
Pressure immobilisation is taught and practised in HLTAID011 first aid including CPR. Best First Aid Training runs it at Parramatta, Penrith, Blacktown and Liverpool. We also supply first aid kits and bandages — pressure immobilisation needs more bandage length than a standard kit usually carries.
Sources: NSW Poisons Information Centre, Bites and stings; Healthdirect Australia, Spider bites.
