Bites And Stings First Aid Acronyms

Australian bites and stings first aid acronyms for PIT, DRSABCD, PIC, ASCIA, EAI, snake bite, funnel-web bite, anaphylaxis and handover.

Australian venom guide

Bites And Stings First Aid Acronyms

A practical Australian acronym map for snake bite, funnel-web spider bite, insect stings, anaphylaxis, pressure immobilisation, Poisons Information Centre advice and emergency handover.

For suspected snake bite, funnel-web spider bite, severe allergic reaction, breathing trouble, collapse or rapidly worsening symptoms, call Triple Zero (000). For poisoning advice in Australia call 13 11 26.
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Bites and stings first aid acronyms visual guide

The Short Version

PIT means pressure immobilisation technique and is central for Australian snake bite and suspected funnel-web spider bite first aid. DRSABCD keeps the emergency order clear. PIC points to 13 11 26 for poison advice. ASCIA and EAI matter when a bite or sting triggers anaphylaxis.

PIT DRSABCD PIC ASCIA EAI

Act First

Use DRSABCD for the emergency order, PIT for specific venom situations, PIC for poison advice, and ASCIA/EAI when anaphylaxis is possible.

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DRSABCD

DRSABCD Meaning: The Australian First Aid Action Plan

The big emergency sequence: Danger, Response, Send for help, Airway, Breathing, CPR and Defibrillation.

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PIT

PIT First Aid: Pressure Immobilisation Technique for Australian Bites

PIT stands for Pressure Immobilisation Technique, often used for serious Australian snake and some venomous bite risks.

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PIC

PIC Meaning: Poisons Information Centre and 13 11 26

PIC means Poisons Information Centre, the 24-hour Australian advice line for poisoning, bites, stings and toxic exposure.

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ASCIA

ASCIA Action Plan: The Anaphylaxis First Aid Acronym Australians See Everywhere

ASCIA is the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, the name behind the familiar anaphylaxis action plans.

 E

EAI

EAI Meaning: Epinephrine or Adrenaline Autoinjector

EAI usually means epinephrine autoinjector, also called an adrenaline autoinjector in Australian first aid language.

Snake Bite And Funnel-Web Bite

Pressure immobilisation, stillness, 000 and clear handover matter most. Do not wash the bite site if venom identification may be needed.

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PIT

PIT First Aid: Pressure Immobilisation Technique for Australian Bites

PIT stands for Pressure Immobilisation Technique, often used for serious Australian snake and some venomous bite risks.

 D

DRSABCD

DRSABCD Meaning: The Australian First Aid Action Plan

The big emergency sequence: Danger, Response, Send for help, Airway, Breathing, CPR and Defibrillation.

 P

PIC

PIC Meaning: Poisons Information Centre and 13 11 26

PIC means Poisons Information Centre, the 24-hour Australian advice line for poisoning, bites, stings and toxic exposure.

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SAMPLE

SAMPLE First Aid History: The Questions Worth Asking

SAMPLE helps first aiders gather useful information while help is coming.

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MIST

MIST Handover: Mechanism, Injuries, Signs and Treatment

MIST is a compact trauma handover format: Mechanism, Injuries, Signs and Treatment.

Spider Bite Differences

Funnel-web and mouse spider concern is different from redback pain care; the right first aid depends on the likely spider and symptoms.

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PIT

PIT First Aid: Pressure Immobilisation Technique for Australian Bites

PIT stands for Pressure Immobilisation Technique, often used for serious Australian snake and some venomous bite risks.

 R

RID

RID First Aid Acronym: Rest, Immobilise and Direct Pressure for Bleeding

RID is a short bleeding-control reminder: Rest, Immobilise and Direct Pressure.

 S

SAMPLE

SAMPLE First Aid History: The Questions Worth Asking

SAMPLE helps first aiders gather useful information while help is coming.

 P

PQRST

PQRST Pain Assessment: A First Aid Question Framework

PQRST helps make pain questions specific enough to be useful.

 P

PIC

PIC Meaning: Poisons Information Centre and 13 11 26

PIC means Poisons Information Centre, the 24-hour Australian advice line for poisoning, bites, stings and toxic exposure.

Allergic Reaction Or Anaphylaxis

Follow the person’s action plan, use adrenaline autoinjectors as trained, and call 000 for severe allergy or breathing symptoms.

A

ASCIA

ASCIA Action Plan: The Anaphylaxis First Aid Acronym Australians See Everywhere

ASCIA is the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, the name behind the familiar anaphylaxis action plans.

 E

EAI

EAI Meaning: Epinephrine or Adrenaline Autoinjector

EAI usually means epinephrine autoinjector, also called an adrenaline autoinjector in Australian first aid language.

 I

IM

IM Meaning: Intramuscular Injection in First Aid Contexts

IM means intramuscular, a route where medicine is injected into a muscle.

 D

DRSABCD

DRSABCD Meaning: The Australian First Aid Action Plan

The big emergency sequence: Danger, Response, Send for help, Airway, Breathing, CPR and Defibrillation.

Handover And Follow-Up

Useful facts include time of bite or sting, symptoms, movement, first aid applied, medicines used, allergies and change over time.

S

SAMPLE

SAMPLE First Aid History: The Questions Worth Asking

SAMPLE helps first aiders gather useful information while help is coming.

 O

OPQRST

OPQRST Meaning: Pain Assessment Questions in First Aid and Handover

OPQRST is a pain and symptom assessment acronym: Onset, Provocation, Quality, Region, Severity and Time.

 I

ISBAR

ISBAR Meaning: A Safer Handover Framework

ISBAR means Identify, Situation, Background, Assessment and Recommendation: a structured way to hand over important information.

 M

MIST

MIST Handover: Mechanism, Injuries, Signs and Treatment

MIST is a compact trauma handover format: Mechanism, Injuries, Signs and Treatment.

 A

AVPU

AVPU First Aid: Alert, Voice, Pain, Unresponsive

AVPU is a quick way to describe a person’s level of responsiveness.

What Not To Mix Up

  • PIT is not for every bite or sting: pressure immobilisation is used for specific venom situations such as Australian snake bite and suspected funnel-web bite, not as a blanket rule for every painful sting.
  • Do not wash a suspected snake bite site: remaining venom may help identification. Keep the person still and bring help to them where possible.
  • Do not chase, catch or kill the animal: movement and extra bites create more risk.
  • Do not wait for perfect identification: call 000 for serious symptoms and use the safest first aid pathway for the situation.
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Printable Poster

Pin the core Australian first aid acronyms in a staff room, club room or first aid area.

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School & Childcare

See how bites, stings, allergy plans and playground incidents fit into child-focused first aid readiness.

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This guide is educational and does not replace accredited first aid training, professional medical advice, action plans, poison-centre advice or directions from emergency services.