Just my 2 cents...
Have been (sometimes too) close to several snake species, some known to me (russels viper, cobra's, sea kraits, reticulated pythons, mulga (iirc the official name of a king brown?), file snake, olive python and barba amarilla eeh yellow beard eeh darn what is the english name of it... fer de lance...) and most of them unknown... they all wanted to get away more then attacking me. Protecting themselves they all do eventually... wouldn't you?
Most bites, take a while to take effect like Stuart said, many of them not being venomous at all. But the fear of snakes themselves can cause paralysis, heart attacks etc themselves, let alone being bitten by one, that really plays mind tricks (was about to use different words but this is a family forum isn't it). In my idea that is where the "15 step snake" came from... fear.... and then you drop....out of fear....
As far as I know anti venom needs to be kept in a fridge and then administered properly!
Allergic reactions are pretty common. Most 'natives' I met (wether Thai, Malay, Australian Aborigines, Central American Indians), all put their fate in traditional medicine... I am glad I never had to check their medicinal truth though, and I hold those traditional remedies in high regards!
No tourniqets, cutting or sucking. Proper bandaging, keeping cool, getting pro help asap and more normal first aid....
Grtz Johan
PS Stuart... that was you eating the snake and not the other way around wasn't it ;-)