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Pressure bandage with immobilisation information reproduced with the kind permission of the Australian Venom Research Unit.

Austin Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We celebrate, value and include people of all backgrounds, genders, sexualities, cultures, bodies and abilities. Victorian Poisons Information Centre.

What to do if someone is bitten or stung by a marine creature, snake, spider or insect. The pharmacist will be able to recommend one suitable for you See your doctor if the sting does not clear up in a few days or if it looks infected Dangerous ants in Victoria Jumper or Jack Jumper Ant Myrmecia pilosula Bull or Bulldog Ant Myrmecia pyriformis Green-head Ant Rhytidopenera metallica "Blue Ant" Diamma bicolor this is actually a type of wasp.

See your doctor if the bite does not clear up in a few days or if it looks infected Bees in Victoria European Honey Bee Apis mellifera stings are the cause of major problems Native Australian Bee stings only occasionally need medical attention. Back to Top. Blue-ringed octopus The blue-ringed octopus is found in all Australian coastal waters. Effects of the venom Initially a person may not feel a bite. First aid Pressure bandage with immobilisation PBI is required to limit the movement of the venom from the area.

Apply a compression bandage over the bite, bandaging upwards from the lower portion of the bitten limb see pressure bandage with immobilisation technique. Splint the limb. Keep the victim still. Bring transport to the victim. Call for an ambulance. If breathing has stopped, begin Expired Air Resuscitation. First aid Decontamination: Remove hairs with tweezers or by applying and removing adhesive tape to the area.

Seek medical attention immediately if there is stinging in the eye s. Treatment: Apply a cold pack to the area and take a simple analgesic if required for relief of burning, pain and itching. Antihistamine medication or cortisone cream may be needed for persistent symptoms ask your pharmacist or doctor.

Seek medical attention immediately if there are caterpillar hairs in the eye s. Fish stings including stingrays There are many fish in Australian waters that have venomous spines. The most dangerous fish in this group is the stonefish, which is not found in Victorian waters. First aid The best treatment for the severe pain is heat. The heat breaks down and inactivates the venom.

Immerse the affected area in water that is hot enough to be effective but not hot enough to scald. It is best for someone other than the victim to test the water temperature. If no one else is present, the victim should test the temperature with a non-injured limb. Keep the affected area immersed in hot water until the pain is relieved or has subsided. The hot water may need to be topped up to maintain the pain relief. If no relief is obtained after minutes, seek medical attention for alternative pain relief.

Seek medical assessment immediately for cleaning of the wound, tetanus immunisation, pain relief, if required, and therapy to prevent infection.

Insects For ant, bee, caterpillar and wasp stings see specific first aid information. See your doctor if the bite does not clear up in a few days or if it looks infected Back to Top. Jellyfish Dangerous jellyfish found in Australian waters include the box jellyfish chironex fleckeri and an array of jellyfish thought to cause the Irukandji syndrome, including carukia barnesi. Jellyfish in Victorian waters rarely cause serious illness but can cause severe pain. First aid Remove adherent tentacles by flooding area with sea water, picking off with gloved fingers or forceps or scraping them off with a firm implement e.

Do not pick off with bare fingers. Apply cold packs and take a simple analgesic if required to relieve pain. For stings from Physalia species Bluebottle or Portuguese man-o-war , immersion of the affected area in hot not scalding water is recommended. Immerse the affected area or shower in water that is hot enough to be effective, but not hot enough to scald. Do this for approximately 20 minutes. Antihistamine medication or cortisone cream may be required, ask your pharmacist or doctor. Seek medical attention if the symptoms are severe.

Leeches Leeches cause unwarranted fear in many people. First aid Remove the leech: Application of salt, salt water or vinegar to an actively sucking leech will cause it to fall off.

A leech will usually fall off after 20 minutes of attachment without any treatment DO NOT pull the leech off as the skin may be torn and ulceration may follow or parts of the jaw may remain and set up infection.

Applying heat to the leech e. Scorpions The scorpions found in Australia are not considered dangerous, compared with the scorpions from South America. First aid Wash the sting area with soap and water Apply a cold pack and take a simple analgesic if required for pain and swelling Seek medical attention if your tetanus immunisation is not up-to-date, if the area becomes infected or if the stung area has not cleared up within days Back to Top.

Snakes Dangerous snakes found in Victoria Tiger snake the most common cause of snake envenoming in Victoria Common or Eastern brown snake Copperhead snake Red-bellied black snake There are other venomous snakes found in other parts of Australia. Note: Do not wash the bite site. Venom is injected deeply so there is no benefit in cutting or sucking the bite.

A tourniquet is not an effective way to restrict venom movement. You may be offered long-term oxygen therapy if you're having difficulty breathing and have low levels of oxygen in your blood. Bronchodilator medicines may also be prescribed to widen your airways and make breathing easier. You'll be given a course of antibiotics if you develop a bacterial chest infection. In very severe cases, a lung transplant may be an option, although there are strict health requirements to meet before this will be considered.

In the UK, all workplaces must comply with The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations , which sets a workplace exposure limit for silica.

You can read more detailed information about the control of exposure to silica dust on the Health and Safety Executive website. If you've been diagnosed with silicosis, you may be able to claim compensation in one of the following ways:. UK website.

Page last reviewed: 01 July Next review due: 01 July People who work in the following industries are particularly at risk: stone masonry and stone cutting — especially with sandstone construction and demolition — as a result of exposure to concrete and paving materials worktop manufacturing and fitting pottery, ceramics and glass manufacturing mining and quarrying sand blasting Signs and symptoms The symptoms of silicosis usually take many years to develop, and you may not notice any problems until after you've stopped working with silica dust.

Main symptoms The main symptoms of silicosis are: a persistent cough persistent shortness of breath weakness and tiredness If the condition continues to get worse, these symptoms may become more severe.

Further problems Silicosis can also increase your risk of getting other serious and potentially life-threatening conditions, including: tuberculosis TB and other chest infections pulmonary hypertension heart failure arthritis kidney disease chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD lung cancer When to see your GP See your GP if you think there's a possibility you could have silicosis.

Tests you may have include: a chest X-ray to detect abnormalities in the structure of your lungs a computerised tomography CT scan of your chest to produce more detailed images of your lungs lung function testing spirometry , which involves breathing into a machine called a spirometer to assess how well your lungs are working A test for TB may also be recommended because you're more likely to get TB if you have silicosis.

The bleeding stops or slows to an ooze or trickle after 15 minutes of pressure. It may ooze or trickle for up to 45 minutes. These include: Jagged wounds on the face. Cuts on the eyelids. Cuts to the lips, especially if they cut through the edge of the lip. Symptoms of a skull fracture may include: Clear or bloody fluid draining from the ears or nose. Bruising under the eyes or behind the ears.

Drooping of the face. A dent anywhere on the head. For example: You may feel a little out of breath but still be able to talk mild difficulty breathing , or you may be so out of breath that you cannot talk at all severe difficulty breathing. It may be getting hard to breathe with activity mild difficulty breathing , or you may have to work very hard to breathe even when you're at rest severe difficulty breathing. Severe trouble breathing means: You cannot talk at all.

You have to work very hard to breathe. You feel like you can't get enough air. You do not feel alert or cannot think clearly. Moderate trouble breathing means: It's hard to talk in full sentences. It's hard to breathe with activity. Mild trouble breathing means: You feel a little out of breath but can still talk. It's becoming hard to breathe with activity. Severe trouble breathing means: The child cannot eat or talk because he or she is breathing so hard.

The child's nostrils are flaring and the belly is moving in and out with every breath. The child seems to be tiring out. The child seems very sleepy or confused. Moderate trouble breathing means: The child is breathing a lot faster than usual. The child has to take breaks from eating or talking to breathe. The nostrils flare or the belly moves in and out at times when the child breathes. Mild trouble breathing means: The child is breathing a little faster than usual.

The child seems a little out of breath but can still eat or talk. Long-term alcohol and drug problems. Steroid medicines, which may be used to treat a variety of conditions. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer. Other medicines used to treat autoimmune disease.

Medicines taken after organ transplant. Not having a spleen. Seek Care Now Based on your answers, you may need care right away.

Call your doctor now to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care. If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't have one, seek care in the next hour. You do not need to call an ambulance unless: You cannot travel safely either by driving yourself or by having someone else drive you.

You are in an area where heavy traffic or other problems may slow you down. Call Now Based on your answers, you need emergency care. Seek Care Today Based on your answers, you may need care soon. Call your doctor today to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.

If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't have one, seek care today. If it is evening, watch the symptoms and seek care in the morning. If the symptoms get worse, seek care sooner. Put direct, steady pressure on the wound until help arrives. Keep the area raised if you can. Make an Appointment Based on your answers, the problem may not improve without medical care. Make an appointment to see your doctor in the next 1 to 2 weeks.

If appropriate, try home treatment while you are waiting for the appointment. If symptoms get worse or you have any concerns, call your doctor. Home Treatment Home treatment may help treat problems and prevent complications after an injury to your face. First aid for bleeding Facial injuries can bleed a lot even if they are minor injuries. First aid for a suspected broken bone Do not move misshapen facial bones. It may make an injury worse, increase bleeding, or cause more problems.

Apply an ice or cold pack immediately to prevent or minimize swelling. Seek medical evaluation and treatment. Measures to reduce pain, swelling, and bruising Use ice.

Cold will reduce pain and swelling. Apply the ice or cold pack for 10 to 20 minutes, 3 or more times a day. After 48 to 72 hours, if swelling is gone, apply warmth to the area that hurts. Keep your head elevated, even while you sleep. This will help reduce swelling. For the first 48 hours, avoid things that might increase swelling, such as hot showers, hot tubs or hot packs, or drinking alcohol or hot fluids.

Aspirin prolongs the clotting time of blood and may cause more nose or facial bleeding. Eat soft foods and cold foods and fluids to reduce jaw and mouth pain. Avoid hot foods or beverages, which may increase swelling around the mouth.

Medicine you can buy without a prescription Try a non-prescription medicine to help treat your fever or pain: Acetaminophen , such as Tylenol Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs : Ibuprofen, such as Advil or Motrin Naproxen, such as Aleve Aspirin also a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug , such as Asaphen or Entrophen Talk to your child's doctor before switching back and forth between doses of acetaminophen and ibuprofen.

Safety tips Be sure to follow these safety tips when you use a non-prescription medicine: Carefully read and follow all directions on the medicine bottle and box. Do not take more than the recommended dose. Do not take a medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to it in the past.

If you have been told to avoid a medicine, call your doctor before you take it. If you are or could be pregnant, do not take any medicine other than acetaminophen unless your doctor has told you to.

Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than 18 unless your doctor tells you to. Symptoms to watch for during home treatment Call your doctor if any of the following symptoms occur during home treatment: Numbness or tingling develop.

Changes in vision develop, such as double vision or blurring. Signs of infection develop. Pain and swelling continue or get worse.

Symptoms become more severe or frequent. Prevention There are many steps you can take to help prevent a facial injury. Always use car safety seats and seat belts to prevent or reduce nose and facial injuries during a car crash.

Do not use alcohol or other drugs before participating in sports or when operating a motor vehicle or other equipment. Wear a helmet and other protective clothing whenever you are biking, motorcycling, skating, skateboarding, kayaking, horseback riding, skiing, snowboarding, or rock climbing.

Make sure your children also wear helmets and protective clothing to prevent sports injuries. Wear a mouth protector when you participate in contact sports. Wear a hard hat if you work in an industrial area. Wear safety glasses, goggles, or face shields when you work with power tools or when you do an activity that might cause an object to fly into your face.

Do not dive into shallow or unfamiliar water. Prevent falls in your home by removing hazards that might cause a fall. Do not keep guns in your home.

If you must keep guns, lock them up and store them unloaded and uncocked. Lock ammunition in a separate area. Never leave your child unattended in a high place, such as on a tabletop; in a crib with the sides down; on elevated porches, decks, or landings; or even on a bed or sofa. Do not leave your child alone in any infant seat or sitting toy, such as a swing or jumper.

Use all of the safety straps provided. Use stair gates to block stairways. Use gates at the top and bottom of the stairs, and use the gates properly.

Baby walkers should not be used. They are not safe. Canada has banned baby walkers because many babies have been seriously injured while using them. It is illegal to manufacture, sell, advertise, or import new or used baby walkers. A stationary activity centre, with adult supervision, is a better choice.

Watch your child when he or she is outside. Uneven grass, sloping lawns, and hills may be hard for your child to walk on. When your toddler is using a bottle or sippy cup, have him or her stay seated.

This can help prevent injuries that might occur if your child were to fall while walking and holding a bottle or a cup. Make your home safe from falls by removing hazards that might cause a fall, such as throw rugs. Place your child in an approved child car seat when travelling in a car. Follow the manufacturer's directions for securing the seat in the car. Children should ride in the back seat for safety. Have your children wear helmets when necessary, such as when they are passengers on a bike or are riding a tricycle or bicycle on their own.

You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions: When did your injury occur? What caused your injury? What are your main symptoms? What have you done so far to treat your injury? Have you had a facial injury in the past? Was your injury evaluated by a doctor? What was the diagnosis?