Animal bites and stings: navigating the wild side with Flip

Here at Flip, we’re all about embracing life’s adventures. Whether you’re hiking through lush forests, scuba diving in crystal-clear waters or canoeing in your favourite river, we want you to get out and experience it all. But nature isn’t always a gentle companion, and sometimes, it bites back.

Just how dangerous is it out there?

We’re famous for sharing our country with some of the world’s most venomous creatures. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) and Flinders University:

Some of these creatures can inflict fatal bites or stings, but fortunately, this is very rare.

The data around animal bites and stings in Australia.

Incidence of animal bites.

Most Australians will be bitten by an animal at least once in their life, for instance by dogs, but possibly also by other animals like cats, rodents, marine animals and other native animals.

Hospitalisation from bites and stings.

According to the AIHW and Flinders University, in 2017–18, 3,520 people were hospitalised due to contact with a venomous animal or plant. That’s 14 cases per 100,000 people, with almost twice as many males as females hospitalised.

‍

First aid for animal bites and stings.

Would you know what to do in an animal bite or sting emergency?

A study by CSL Seqirus has reported that most people think they know the correct first aid, but their knowledge is often outdated or wrong.

It’s super important for everyone to know the correct first aid because it can be the difference between life and death. The proper first aid treatment varies depending on the bite or sting, but there’s a comprehensive Bites and Stings app to guide you. Download it to learn more about the world’s most venomous creatures and what to do if you’re bitten or stung. 

Real-life encounters.

Almost a third of Australians say they or someone they know has been bitten or stung by a venomous creature. Here are some stories from incidents around the home, on holidays and out on the water.

Snakes and spiders are a part of bush life.

Elle’s family lives on the fringes of Melbourne on five acres of forest where animal bites and stings are ever-present. Once, her mum moved a pile of twigs in the garden when she felt a sharp pain. ‘She thought a stick poked her, and threw them onto the ground in annoyance,’ says Elle. ‘About two hours later, it looked a bit funny, like a little tear in the skin. She went to hospital but luckily didn’t need antivenom. They gave her IV fluids and monitored her mental state and liver function for a day or two, and she was fine.’

Another time, Elle’s brother woke up covered in bites, which they thought were mosquito bites. Later that day, he started to feel sick. ‘He was vomiting and so he went to hospital. It turned out there was a redback spider infestation in his room,’ says Elle.

Elle herself has been stung by wasps more than twenty times in separate incidents and remembers the ferocity of the bullants. ‘It’s just part of growing up in the bush,’ she says. ‘Just trying to do normal daily things when you’re in a more forested area, nature gets up in your business. It doesn’t matter how much prevention you do. Eventually you’ll meet up with something that will bite or sting you.’

A dog bite leads to in-flight scare.

While holidaying in Queensland, Jo’s mum was out for a morning walk when a dog bit her. ‘I was woken by mum yelling for help,’ recalls Jo. ‘There were several deep puncture wounds in her leg, so we went straight to the emergency department.’

The medical team dressed the wound and administered a tetanus shot. All was going well until the flight home when the leg swelled up. ‘It was scary not knowing what was going on and being unable to access help,’ says Jo. ‘We went back to emergency and they checked for clots before giving mum antibiotics and re-dressing the wounds. She recovered in a few weeks but took a stick with her on walks for a long time. It didn’t help that she’d been bitten on the face by a dog as a child. She loves dogs, but these experiences have definitely made her wary.’

Glenn’s stingray saga.

Glenn was fishing in his boat just before dawn when he caught a stingray about the size of a platter. ‘Rather than cutting the line, I brought it to dehook it and save tying a new rig,’ Glenn says. ‘I hovered over the fish with its tail between my feet, and all I can remember is letting out a blood-curdling scream. It had stung me in the main vein that runs just above the inside ankle bone.’ Luckily the barb didn't snap, and he had a first aid kit. He did what he could to stop the bleeding and wrapped it up. ‘It was a hole the size of a meat skewer. I'm alone in 100 feet of water and far from the boat ramp. So, what do I do? Well, being a stubborn old tradie, I thought she'll be right and kept fishing until I couldn't stand it any more.’ Luckily he had a high pain threshold and an electric anchor winch and safely returned to shore.

Be prepared for anything.

Don’t let the fear of nasty critters get in the way of enjoying the best moments in life. Here are some ideas to help you be prepared when you head out into the great outdoors:

1. First aid readiness: Consider taking a first aid course and remember to take a well-stocked first aid kit. Less than a third of people always pack a first aid kit when going to the bush or beach, so don’t assume others will have this covered.
2. Australian Bites and Stings app: Download the free Bites and Stings app. It’s like having a wildlife expert in your pocket. You can quickly identify creatures, learn about their risks and access invaluable first-aid information.
3. Buddy system: Adventure with a friend whenever possible. Having someone by your side enhances the experience and also boosts safety. Always inform someone about your whereabouts and expected return time if you're exploring solo.

Flip offers peace of mind for the unexpected.

For an added layer of protection, check out Flip’s insurance products. You can get cover for eligible injuries caused by accidents, including unpleasant animal encounters.

Flip Kids covers your kids aged 5-17, while Flip Active covers you for eligible accidental injuries. 

Flip Roaming provides cover for you or your kids while you’re travelling in covered overseas locations.

How it works.

Not sure if Flip is the right cover for your adventure? Here is a fictional example to help bring Flip to life.

Sam purchased a Flip Active cover for a camping trip with friends and was bitten by a funnel web spider. They applied pressure bandaging and immobilisation first aid techniques and called an ambulance. Sam was reviewed by a specialist in the emergency department and was admitted to the intensive care unit for overnight observation.

Sam’s injury was of a severity that required:

• Specialist care $100
• Urgent treatment in a hospital emergency department $200
• Care as a hospital inpatient for 2 nights $1,000

TOTAL BENEFITS PAID — $1,400

Cover scenarios.

COVERED	NOT COVERED	WHY?
Sam bought the Flip Active product, went camping and was bitten by a funnel web spider.	Sam went camping, was bitten by a funnel web spider, and later bought a Flip product.	Your cover needs to be active before the accident happens to be eligible for cover.
Sam was bitten by a funnel web spider and needed specialist treatment in an emergency department and ICU.	Sam was bitten by a harmless spider and needed to apply antiseptic cream.	Your injury has to be of a certain severity to be eligible for a benefit.

Want to learn more about how Flip works?