Funnel-web spiders and other big black spiders First Aid

Funnel-web spider and other big black spider bite symptoms

A funnel-web spider bite causes:

• bad pain
• lots of sweating
• nausea and vomiting (feeling and being sick)

Other symptoms that you may have include:

• drooling
• difficulty breathing
• confusion
• numbness
• tingling
• twitching of your mouth and tongue

Mouse spider bites are not common, but their symptoms are similar to a bite from a funnel-web spider.

First aid for a funnel-web spider bite

Stay calm and follow these steps:

1. lie down
2. mark the site of the bite on the skin with a pen or take a photo
3. apply a pressure immobilisation bandage (see below)
4. use a splint to keep the limb still — this slows the movement of venom around your body
5. keep still
6. wait for the ambulance to arrive

If someone is with you, they can try to carefully catch the spider so it can be identified. To do this:

1. place an empty jar over the spider
2. push a stiff piece of card under the mouth of the jar
3. up-end the jar so that the spider falls to the bottom
4. quickly remove the card and replace the jar’s lid

Pressure immobilisation bandage

An elasticated bandage is recommended for anyone bitten by a funnel-web spider. An elasticated bandage slows down the movement of spider venom into your blood.

Follow these steps to apply an elasticated roller bandage:

1. wrap an elasticated bandage over the bite itself
2. wrap a second bandage over the whole limb

The bandage should be tight — but shouldn’t cut off your circulation. You should not be able to easily slide a finger between the bandage and your skin.

When wrapping the second bandage, start just above the fingers or toes of your bitten limb and move towards your body.

Write down:

• the time of the bite
• when the bandage was put on