July 18th, 2007
Dog bites account for numerous injuries every year, many of them to children.
Researchers examined the medical records of 341 children treated for dog bites in hospitals and GP surgeries between 1994 and 2003.
The results of the study showed that fewer than 1 child per 1,000 is bitten by a dog each year. However, the study also revealed that about half of all dog-bite incidents are probably not reported to police or doctors.
Children under age 1 had the highest risk of being bitten, and nearly 75 percent of the injured children were younger than 10.
Half of the time, the children were bitten on the face, head or neck; the arms, hands, legs, and feet were also common sites of dog bites.
Also, 27 percent of the time the children’s injuries required them to be hospitalized. In most cases, children were bitten during the summer months, and in 75 percent of cases, the children or parents knew or owned the biting dog.
The breed of dog also played a role – children had about five times the risk of being attacked by a German shepherd or Doberman than they did by a Labrador retriever or mongrel.
For children, dog bites occur often and are frequently serious enough to require hospitalization. After serious attacks, some children may even need surgery to repair scarring.
To reduce the risk that your child will be bitten by a dog, always supervise your baby or young child around dogs. You can also teach your child these safety guidelines:
•Always ask the dog’s owner if it’s OK to pet the dog, and before petting a dog, let it sniff you.
•Do not try to run past or outrun a dog.
•Do not try to separate fighting dogs.
•If a dangerous dog approaches you, try to act calm and avoid direct eye contact.
•If a dog tries to bite you, stand up with your feet together and put your arms and hands up to protect your face and neck.
It is also well worth reading our other articles about dangerous dogs and the Top 10 dangerous dogs.
