Efficacy of Pressure Pad vs Pressure Bandage Immobilisation for Snake Bite First Aid in Healthy Volunteers

What this Trial Is About

Snake bites affect thousands of people in Australia each year, with few deaths due to timely medical care and quality first aid. This research investigates and compares two first aid methods—the Pressure Bandage Immobilisation (PBI) technique currently recommended in Australia and a simpler Pressure Pad (PP) technique used internationally. The study aims to determine if the PP method is as effective as PBI in slowing venom movement through the body, which is important for improving first aid guidance. Participants will receive an injection of mock venom in the hand or foot, followed by application of either no first aid, the PBI method, or the PP method. Each technique involves specific bandaging and splinting to immobilize the limb, with pressure carefully controlled around 60mmHg. The study will monitor the flow of the mock venom in each case using nuclear medicine imaging to track its movement through the lymphatic system. During the study, participants will undergo repeated scans to observe how quickly the mock venom reaches regional lymph nodes, with each person experiencing all possible combinations of injection site and first aid method in random order. The primary measure is the time taken for the venom to travel to lymph nodes, monitored over a period spanning a minimum of 12 weeks to a maximum of 18 months. This detailed data will help assess the effectiveness and safety of these first aid techniques to inform future recommendations.

Analysis of the Efficacy of Pressure Pad vs Pressure Bandage Immobilisation for Snake Bite First Aid in Healthy Volunteers.