Preventing Dog Bites

Man and woman's best friend bites more than 4.7 million people a year, and key experts believe that public education can help prevent these bites.

Each year, 800,000 Americans seek medical attention for dog bites; half of these are children. Of those injured, 386,000 require treatment in an emergency department and about a dozen die. The rate of dog bite-related injuries is highest for children ages 5 to 9 years, and the rate decreases as children age. Almost two thirds of injuries among children ages four years and younger are to the head or neck region. Injury rates in children are significantly higher for boys than for girls.

Preventing Dog Bites

Teach children basic safety around dogs and review regularly:

* Do not approach an unfamiliar dog.
* Do not run from a dog and scream.
* Remain motionless (e.g., "be still like a tree") when approached by an unfamiliar dog.
* If knocked over by a dog, roll into a ball and lie still (e.g., "be still like a log").
* Do not play with a dog unless supervised by an adult.
* Immediately report stray dogs or dogs displaying unusual behavior to an adult.
* Avoid direct eye contact with a dog.
* Do not disturb a dog who is sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies.
* Do not pet a dog without allowing it to see and sniff you first.
* If bitten, immediately report the bite to an adult.

Each year, 4.7 million Americans are bitten by dogs. These bites result in approximately 12 fatalities.

info from the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC)