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Dog
Bites, a Shocking U.S. Epidemic (Especially Among Kids):
How to Avoid Getting Bitten, What to Do If Attacked
by SixWise.com
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It
is an epidemic affecting close to 2 percent of the population
-- mostly children -- and resulting in 1,000 people in need
of hospital emergency care every day, and between 15 and 20
deaths per year.
Had
the title not given it away, many would have guessed anything
but dog bites. But if you find it hard to believe that dog
bites are a major cause for concern in the United States,
consider the following facts:
- The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that
dogs bite more than 4.7 million people annually
- One
out of every six bites requires medical attention
- Nearly
334,000 dog bite victims visit hospital emergency rooms
each year -- that's 914 per day! -- according to the National
Center for Health Statistics
- Lawsuits
filed by victims of dog bites against pet owners appear
to be on the rise
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Children
are the most common
victims of dog bites. Teaching
your children, at a young age,
what to do if they meet an
aggressive dog can save
their lives.
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- The
second most common cause of injury to children is getting
bitten by a dog -- they represent more than half of all
dog bite victims -- according to an article in the Journal
of the American Medical Association (JAMA)
70 percent of dog bites occur on the owner's property. As
such, dog bites account for close to one-quarter of all
homeowner's insurance liability claims at a cost of $345.5
million a year
So
just what are your chances of actually being bitten by a dog?
The CDC says an American has a one in 50 chance of being bitten
by a dog each year, and about 77 percent of the time the dog
will belong to your family or a friend.
Therefore,
learn how to prevent attacks, and what to do if you are attacked
... and please share these insights with children and email
to friends, especially those with kids as they are the number
one victim of dog bites.
Which
Dogs are Most Likely to Bite?
It
should be noted that any dog could be friendly or vicious,
regardless of breed. Oftentimes a dog becomes aggressive simply
because it was trained to be that way or was abused in the
past. Similarly, a dog that is thought to be more aggressive
can be trained to be trustworthy and loving.
So
it is impossible to pinpoint a specific type of dog and know
that it will bite. That said, though, there are some characteristics
that you can keep in mind.
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According
to the CDC, the following breeds killed one or more individuals
from 1979 to 1996:
- Pit
bulls
- Rottweilers
- German
shepherds
- Huskies
- Alaskan
malamutes
- Doberman
pinschers
- Chows
- Great
Danes
- St.
Bernards
- Akitas
Further,
eight out of 10 times a dog that bites will be male, according
to the Humane Society of the United States.
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Never approach a dog that's confined behind
a fence, as he may feel cornered and try to
bite out of fear or defense of his territory.
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Steps
to Avoid Getting Bitten
The
United States Humane Society suggests the following
ways to significantly reduce your risk of getting
bitten by a dog:
- Don't
approach a strange dog -- especially if it's
behind a fence or in a car
- Don't
pet a dog (even your own) without letting
it see you and sniff you first
- Don't
turn and run away from a dog, since a dog's
natural instinct will be to chase after, and
catch, you
- Leave
dogs alone while they're eating, sleeping,
chewing on a toy or caring for puppies
- Be
cautious around strange dogs -- assume that
they could see you as a threat or intruder
- Don't
allow children to play with dogs unsupervised,
and never leave babies and toddlers alone
with them, even if you think it's safe
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If
You Feel Threatened by a Dog
If
a dog approaches that you think might attack,
here's how to make yourself seem like less of
a threat:
- Don't
scream or run
- Stay
completely still with your arms at your sides
- Avoid
eye contact with the dog
- When
the dog loses interest, slowly back away
- In
the event the dog does attack, see the tactics
below
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If
a Dog Attacks You
- The
Number One Rule: NEVER RUN (you cannot outrun
a dog, and their instinct will be to catch
you)
- If
you are knocked to the ground, curl into a
ball and put your hands over your ears
- Lie
face down, protect your face with your arms
- Remain
motionless and try not to scream or roll around
- Stay
standing if possible and turn your body sideways
with your arms at your sides
- Try
to "feed" the dog your jacket, clothes,
purse or any other item you can reach
- Stay
motionless and, again, don't run
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What
to Do If You Get Bit
- Immediately
wash the wound thoroughly with soap and warm
water
- Contact
your physician for additional care and advice
- Report
the bite to your local animal care and control
agency
- Write
down, and tell animal control, everything
you know about the dog (the type, owner's
name, what it looks like and where you saw
it if it's a stray)
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If
You Own a Dog ... or Just Generally Love Them!
Dog
bites are a very serious issue, but as any dog-lover (like
all of us here at SixWise.com) can attest, a properly trained
dog can bring many remarkably positive things to our lives.
The key, of course, is proper training.
If
you believe your dog may not be adequately trained, it is
very likely you are right. To avoid a potential disaster
-- to someone else, to you or your family, to your dog --
SixWise urges you to get your dog properly trained.
To
find professional trainers in your area, check out the Association
of American Pet Trainers "Trainer Search" -- http://www.apdt.com/trainers-and-owners/trainer-search/trainer-search.php
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