Teacher bitten by snake at Gin Gin

The common eastern brown snake.

A GIN GIN teacher was bitten by a brown snake as he tried to move it away from classrooms on Tuesday morning.

The 49-year-old man discovered the 45cm snake on a path at Gin Gin State School about 9am.

“He was trying to move it away from the school area when it bit him on the left thumb,” Queensland Ambulance Service advanced care paramedic Jay Allder said.

Luckily, his quick-thinking colleagues quickly came to the rescue and pressure-bandaged the man’s hand to prevent the venom from spreading.

“He was in a bit of pain but he was asymptomatic,” Ms Allder said.

After being taken to Bundaberg Hospital, the man was treated and released.

Gin Gin State School principal Helen Davies praised the fast actions of her staff and paramedics.

“He’s fine now, he is back at work,” Mrs Davies said yesterday.

“Everyone was excellent (in handling the situation).”

A two-year-old was also taken to Bundaberg Hospital on Tuesday after fears the child had been bitten by a snake at Sharon.

But a Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman said paramedics and hospital staff could not confirm the toddler had been bitten.

QAS North Coast region assistant commissioner Chris Broomfield said people needed to remember that although snake season was not at a peak, the warm and wet weather had seen a lot of snakes on the move.

“It’s now March but the weather is still warm and the rain has left many of them looking for dry ground,” Mr Broomfield said.

“The main thing to remember is if you are bitten by a snake, remain calm, dial Triple 0, and stay as still as possible.”

He said people could take simple precautions to avoid being bitten, such as avoiding walking through long grass, or wearing sturdy enclosed shoes and long pants.

“Never try to catch and kill a snake,” he said.

Snake bites were also reported at Kingaroy, Ipswich and Brisbane on Tuesday.