Abstract

The Australian Venom Research Unit http://www.avru.org/index.html is based at the University of Melbourne and is described as being “An internationally recognized interdisciplinary research unit focused on the problem of venomous injury in Australia and the Asia-Pacific,” and that “A key activity of the Unit is to provide medical advice on envenomations, antivenoms and related issues to doctors, veterinarians, paramedical staff and poisons information centers.” The variety of advice about the dangers from venomous fauna is awesome, and although the comprehensive first aid and clinical summaries are reassuring, the LD50 comparisons must be the ultimate in dead reckoning in the outback. The “First Aid” chapter is categorized by species and strain and the “Clinical Advice” by venomous animal (know or unknown), assessment, management, antivenom, etc. The “General” section has interesting statistical illustrations such as history, mapping and venomous animal tree, while the “For Kids” section has quizzes, quick facts, and coloring pages.