Quick thinking saves the day

Three year old Shanise House of Albion Park

A three year old Albion Park girl was recently bitten by a red belly black snake while playing in her backyard.

Shanise House was in the backyard when her mother Lisa-Marie House heard her scream and cry out the lizard bit me.

Ms House said she rushed to her daughters aid and saw one of her dogs with a snake in its mouth.

I didnt know what to do, I rang my father who rushed over and we wrapped a cloth around her, she said.

The pair rushed Shanise to Shellharbour Hospital. According to Ms House Shanise was already vomiting and in extreme pain, slipping in and out of consciousness.

A brace was put over her leg and anti venom rushed from Wollongong Hospital.

She was airlifted to Sydney Childrens Hospital and placed in the intensive care unit.

Shanise became part of a study conducted at the hospital into the effect of snake bites.

I wanted to do something to help other parents and children who are in this same situation and if by allowing the doctors to use information from Shanise we can help them to understand more about snakes I was happy to do it, Ms House said.

Shanise had several follow up appointments with doctors however thanks to the quick thinking and speedy action of her mother and grandfather she has been given the all clear.

All that remained were the two puncture marks on the bottom of her foot and some unpleasant memories.

While telling her story to the Lake Times Shanise came across a rubber snake belonging to big brother Jake. She became visibly distressed and threw the snake in the bin.

That said she is a very brave little girl and made a prompt return to preschool ready to tell her harrowing tale to her classmates.

Ms House said she is concerned the snakes are being disturbed by construction happening near her house and that they will enter other peoples yards.

Ive talked to the kids and explained the difference between lizards and snakes and that if they see a snake they should call mummy and run away, she said.

The house family are now also keen advocates of always wearing shoes outside.