Have you been bitten by a snake? Please join our Snake-bite Study!

[Snake-bite Study]

Hi Aussie Pythons and Snakes,

My name is Jasmine, a fourth year medical student at the University of New South Wales. It would be great if anyone who has been bitten by a snake could help assist in Snake-bite research, by completing the linked questionnaire.

Please read the information below to find out more about the study.
If you would like to be part of the study, please click on the link below, and the questionnaire will open for you to complete and submit.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=gJIrA3_2fB4620NiNlhtHtiw_3d_3d

If the questionnaire does to progress to the next page, make sure you check all the required questions have been answered. 'Please answer this question' will be diplayed in red above any question that may have been missed.

The University of New South Wales and Coffs Harbour Base Hospital are conducting a study to investigate snake-bite.

Your participation in this study will be very much appreciated and will help Doctors to better understand snake-bite in Australia. All persons who have been bitten by a snake will be of assistance to the study.

Please don’t hesitate to contact Jasmine Bowie (study coordinator) if you have any enquiries.
Jasmine Bowie
Telephone number: 0431868078
E-mail address: snakebitestudy@gmail.com


If you would like to participate in this study, please read the ‘Snake-bite study participant information’ (below) and complete the linked questionnaire by 25th September 2007.

Please feel free to forward this link to other interested persons who have been bitten by a snake.

Yours Sincerely

Jasmine Bowie
Study Coordinator
Medical Student, University of New South Wales
29th August 2007


Below is more detailed information on the study;

Snake-bite Study Participant Information

Dear Sir or Madam,

The University of New South Wales, Coffs Harbour Rural Medical School in conjunction with Coffs Harbour Base Hospital Emergency Department is undertaking a study to investigate the impact of being bitten by a snake.

The long term impact of snake-bite has not previously been studied in Australia and this study will be very important to help understand the full impact of snake-bites in Australia. The study will also investigate the impact of antivenom administration on long term morbidity, potentially impacting on clinical practice.

Approximately 300 persons who previously presented to Coffs Harbour hospital with a snake-bite and also members of herpetologist groups (people who study and/or keep snakes and reptiles) considered high risk for snake bite, will be sent this information and questionnaire.
Only persons who have been bitten by a snake will be included in the study, and participation in the study is voluntary.

All information collected in the study will be kept confidential and only persons involved in the study will have access to the information. To the extent permitted by the applicable laws and/or regulations, this information will not be made publicly available. The results of the study will not include any personal or identifying details and if the results of the study are published, the participant’s identity will remain confidential.

The questionnaire should take less than 30 minutes to complete.
All persons who have been bitten by a snake will be of assistance to this study.

If you would like to participate in the study please complete the linked questionnaire no later than 25th September 2007.

This study has been approved by the North Coast Area Health Service (NCAHS) Human Research Ethics Committee and any complaints or concerns about this research project may be made to this committee through the Research Ethics Officer as follows:

Research Ethics Officer
NCAHS Human Research Ethics Committee
PO Box 126
Port Macquarie NSW 2444
Tel: (02) 6588 2941
Fax: (02) 6588 2942
Email: EthicsNCAHS@ncahs.health.nsw.gov.au

If you have any problems or enquiries concerning the questionnaire please don’t hesitate to contactJasmine Bowie (research coordinator) or Dr Alan Tankel (research supervisor).

Jasmine Bowie
Study Coordinator
Locked Bag 812, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450
Telephone number: 0431868078
E-mail address: snakebitestudy@gmail.com

Dr Alan Tankel
Director, Emergency Department.
Locked Bag 812, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450
Telephone number: 02 6656 7428
Fax number: 02 6656 7423
E-mail address: atankel@mncahs.health.nsw.gov.au


Yours Sincerely

Jasmine Bowie
Study Coordinator
Medical Student, University of New South Wales
9th August 2007

[junglemad]

i have never been bitten. jungles are lovable little fellows, especially the ones from trueblue as he trains them before he sells them.
Mr Bredli has a talent for teaching his bredli to attack. Any stats on how many of your snakes that have maimed people Brendan?

[Just_Joshin]

I'm guessing the have to be bites from Vens as most python bites do little more than annoy people!

[ssssnakeman]

done, i got the mrs to do it...

[herpsrule]

yer is it vens or just any snake? its a simple question, and im leaning towards definately vens, but you didnt say anything so one has to wonder!

[0_missy_0]

It's any snake, not just vens.

[rumfreak]

my coastal bites anything that moves until it stops moving

[slim6y]

I've been bitten by cats, dogs, horses, frogs, turtles, birds, fish, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, mice, mosquitos, sand flies, many other various insects, my daughter, someone elses daughter, someone elses daughter intentionally, crab, yabbie... The list goes on... oh... yeah.. i got bitten by a spotted python and two coastal carpets.... YAY!!! I'm eligible for the survey that may or may not ever come in handy for me or the world...

[ssssnakeman]

Yeh i spoke to person running the suvey and she is having problems with her computer,
I think she's a noob at the internet..

[Snake-bite Study]

Sorry guys for being annoying but i'm new to all this forum stuff!!
Thanks for taking the time to read about the study.
I'va had a couple of questions about getting bitten by pythons, and yes we are intersted in bites by all snakes, even non-venomous snakes! This is because we are interested to know how often python bites cause problems. For example, sometimes python teeth are left embedded in the skin! So even if your bite did not cause any problems that is still useful information.
Also, you will not have to have your butt inspected, but who knows what you were doing to get bitten on the butt! (actually the butt is one of the most unluckiest places to get bitten because it very hard to apply first aid! you might be interested to know that reading the medical journals I did come across cases of being bitten on the penis in the outback dunny - oh no!!).

[Gecko :)]

Originally Posted by Snake-bite Study

Sorry guys for being annoying but i'm new to all this forum stuff!!
Thanks for taking the time to read about the study.
I'va had a couple of questions about getting bitten by pythons, and yes we are intersted in bites by all snakes, even non-venomous snakes! This is because we are interested to know how often python bites cause problems. For example, sometimes python teeth are left embedded in the skin! So even if your bite did not cause any problems that is still useful information.
Also, you will not have to have your butt inspected, but who knows what you were doing to get bitten on the butt! (actually the butt is one of the most unluckiest places to get bitten because it very hard to apply first aid! you might be interested to know that reading the medical journals I did come across cases of being bitten on the penis in the outback dunny - oh no!!).

Ouch,. thats gotta hurt

[TrueBlue]

thats when you get the missus to suck the venom out.!!!

[da_donkey]

Originally Posted by TrueBlue

thats when you get the missus to suck the venom out.!!!

I used a couple of paddle pop sticks and a bandage to splint it.................oh who am i kidding?? i used one paddle pop stick and snapped it in half

[Camo]

Originally Posted by TrueBlue

thats when you get the missus to suck the venom out.!!!

Classic. I laughed so hard at this and i am still laughing now.

Cameron

[nvenm8]

Never! But i tried choking one with my thumb once!