Many kids tend to gravitate toward animals. This may be OK if they’re petting a friend’s puppy, but it can be dangerous if an animal turns out to be less than friendly. As much as we hate to think about it, children (and even some adults) get bitten by strange animals all the time. They see an unfamiliar dog and assume it will be docile, only to find out the dog doesn’t react well to strangers. Knowing how to properly react to an animal bite is essential.
As a parent, what can you do? How can you protect your child, and what should you do if an animal harms your little one? To help you protect your babies, toddlers, and kids from getting bitten — and to prepare you for what to do if a bite occurs — here’s what you need to know about animal bites.
How to Avoid Animal Bites
It almost goes without saying that your best bet with animal bites is prevention. While you cannot control every situation, you can avoid places where dangerous animals tend to be, and you can talk to your kids about the risks involved with wild or unfamiliar creatures. In the case of especially young children, you never want to leave them alone with an animal.
For older kids, it’s important to teach them proper behavior when it comes to animals. Make sure they know why and how dogs, cats, raccoons, snakes, etc. can be dangerous, so they’re not unintentionally provoking an incident. Teach your children not to approach animals in the wild, even in a friendly way. Explain that unknown animals are not safe to pet or play with, and it’s best to move carefully rather than try to run, which could trigger an animal’s instinct to chase. To discourage strange animals from being attracted to your home, keep it clean: Don’t leave out food debris.
What to Do if a Bite Occurs
Should the unthinkable happen and your child gets bitten, plan now to stay calm. Stop and assess the wound: How severe is it? Do any bones seem broken? If the bite happened on the face, are stitches needed? Call your child’s doctor or, if the injury seems extensive (hard-to-control bleeding, intense pain, etc.), head to the emergency room right away. For minor injuries, focus on cleaning the area with an antiseptic solution, applying pressure to slow any bleeding, and bandaging it to ensure it heals. Keep an eye on the wound for signs of infection: increased redness, swelling, draining, or a fever. In any of these cases, call your child’s doctor.
How to React to an Animal Bite
Depending on the type of animal that bites, further action may be necessary. While dogs are the most likely animal to bite a child, lots of other animals can also turn aggressive. If the attacker was a cat, you’ll most likely want to get antibiotics, as cats tend to harbor more bacteria in their mouths.
For bat bites or some dog bites, your child may need a rabies shot. Some types of bites will also require a tetanus shot or other intervention. If the animal that’s bitten your child was wild or a stray, contact animal control; if it was someone’s pet, get as much information as you can about the owner, in case you need to seek legal help with medical bills.
Want more information about how to properly react to an animal bite? Take a look at the accompanying resource, which provides several actionable tips. From assessing the severity of the injury to understanding treatment options and aftermath, this guide will help you understand what to do.
Infographic Provided by Tracy Tiernan Attorney at Law
AUTHOR BIO: Tracy Tiernan received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas in 1987. He went on to secure his J.D., or law degree, from The University of Tulsa in 1990. While attending law school, Tracy interned for a highly successful Personal Injury Law firm in the Tulsa area where he was involved in the litigation and trial preparation of Personal Injury, Workers’ Compensation, and Criminal cases. Tracy, who was involved in a bit of college sports, enjoys running, participating in the occasional obstacle race, and coaching his children’s soccer teams to keep his mind sharp. He resides in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with his children.
Sources:
https://www.beaumont.org/conditions/animal-bites-stings
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/bites.html
https://health.usnews.com/wellness/for-parents/articles/animal-bites-what-to-do-when-a-pet-or-a-wild-creature-nips-a-child
https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/animals.html
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Afn-WNjq8PXb3Io8udy-n462_Deqwzkk/view?usp=sharing
