{"id":365130,"date":"2025-09-24T13:58:42","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T03:58:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=365130"},"modified":"2025-09-24T13:58:42","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T03:58:42","slug":"snake-bite-victim-offers-advice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2025\/09\/24\/snake-bite-victim-offers-advice\/","title":{"rendered":"Snake Bite Victim Offers Advice"},"content":{"rendered":"
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QAS paramedics assist Chris Grehan at a bush camp near Kilkivan (Photo: LifeFlight)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

September 24, 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n

A school teacher bitten by a snake near Kilkivan is urging people to attend LifeFlight’s free trauma training workshops so people will know how to help in an emergency … like he was.<\/p>\n

Chris Grehan was at a weekend bush camp about 12 months ago working as a cook when he felt something in the long grass brush against his ankle.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t even look down, I thought it must have been a stick,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI walked over to the group and pulled up a pew and sat down. The seat was quite low, so my knees were up, and I just happened to look down at my ankle and see blood trickling down.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wiped the blood away and saw two puncture wounds and thought, \u2018that doesn\u2019t look very good\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

Camp facilitator and bushcraft expert Rick Petersen applied a snake bite bandage.<\/p>\n

\u201cI sat down straight away and immobilised myself. I knew it was a serious situation, but I had a pressure bandage on, and I was in good hands,\u201d Mr Grehan said.<\/p>\n

After the bandage was applied, the group contacted Triple Zero (000) and QAS paramedics were despatched from Murgon.<\/p>\n

The paramedics checked Mr Grehan\u2019s vitals and decided that due to the rugged terrain, it would be quicker and safer for him to be airlifted.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Bundaberg-based LifeFlight helicopter crew was then called and airlifted Mr Grehan to Bundaberg Hospital.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a dry bite, meaning that I wasn\u2019t envenomated, but I didn\u2019t know that at the time,\u201d Mr Grehan said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe hospital staff told me the size of the bite, and the time of year indicated to them it was an eastern brown snake that bit me.”<\/p>\n

Mr Grehan urged people to sign up for LifeFlight\u2019s free trauma training workshops in the region.<\/p>\n

\u201cQueenslanders living in regional and remote parts of the State should take the time to do a workshop like First Minutes Matter,” he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt offers the person who is injured reassurance, knowing they can be supported until emergency services can arrive.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the workshops, participants are taught practical skills to manage life-threatening events such as snake bites, car crashes, strokes and farming accidents.<\/strong><\/p>\n

LifeFlight senior regional medical educator Leah Harrison said people can take important steps to avoid feeling helpless in a medical emergency.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn many accidents and medical incidents, first responder care is a key step in a patient\u2019s journey,” Ms Harrison said.<\/p>\n

“Efficient and effective care not only increases the chances of survival for these patients but improves recovery times and long-term health outcomes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s why these courses are so important. The workshops are free and if you can invest six hours of your time, that\u2019s all it takes to learn the skills to save somebody\u2019s life.\u201d<\/p>\n