Almost 1 out of 5 dog bites becomes infected. Don’t be a victim.

With a few tips, you can learn how to prevent dog bites and reduce the risk of illness and injury.

Basic Safety Tips

What if you get bitten or attacked by a dog?

• • Put your purse, bag, or jacket between you and the dog to protect yourself.
• • If you are knocked down, curl into a ball with your head tucked in and your hands over your ears and neck.
• • When you get to a safe place, immediately wash wounds with soap and water. Seek medical attention, especially:
• •     -If the wound is serious (uncontrolled bleeding, loss of function, extreme pain, muscle or bone exposure, etc.).
  •     -If the wound becomes red, painful, warm, or swollen, or if you develop a fever.
  •     -If it has been more than 5 years since your last tetanus shot and the bite is deep.

• • Because anyone who is bitten by a dog is at risk of getting rabies, consider contacting your local animal control agency or police department to report the incident, especially:
• •     -If you don’t know if the dog has been vaccinated against rabies.
  •     -If the dog appears sick or is acting strangely.

• • If possible, contact the owner and ensure the animal has a current rabies vaccination.

Minor wounds

• • Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water.
• • Apply an antibiotic cream.
• • Cover the wound with a clean bandage.
• • See a healthcare provider if the wound becomes red, painful, warm, or swollen; if you develop a fever; or if the dog that bit you was acting strangely.

Deep wounds

• • Apply pressure with a clean, dry cloth to stop the bleeding.
• • If you cannot stop the bleeding or you feel faint or weak, call 911 or your local emergency medical services immediately.
• • See a healthcare provider as soon as possible.

See a healthcare provider immediately

• • If wounds appear infected (red, painful, warm, or swollen).
• • If you do not know the dog or if the dog does not have a current rabies vaccination certificate, because you might need treatment to prevent rabies.

Reference:

CDC < http://www.cdc.gov/features/dog-bite-prevention/>