TALLAHASSEE, Florida, April 2, 2015 — The month of May marks the observance of National Dog Bite Prevention Week, which is May 17th to May 23rd, and for many it’s a good reminder that man’s best friend can show a less friendly side.
Annually 4.7 million people in the United States are bitten by dogs, with children becoming the most common victims followed by senior citizens. About 800,000 bites require medical attention, and children are far more likely to have severe injuries.
The staff at Southeastern Plastic Surgery, P.A. (SPS) joins other medical professionals during the dog bite observance to remind clients and friends that there are some simple precautions to avoid a dog bite.
“During the warmer months, we see a number of individuals who have facial and hand or arm lacerations inflicted by a dog,” said Chris DeRosier, M.D., board-certified plastic surgeon of Southeastern Plastic Surgery in Tallahassee, FL. “We hope by sharing these tips to prevent dog bite, we can reduce the incidence of injury.”
There are several tips from ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) that can be followed to avoid dog bites:
- Never touch or attempt to play with a dog who’s sleeping, eating, chewing on a toy or bone or caring for puppies.
- Avoid approach a barking or growling dog.
- Do not pet an unfamiliar dog. Ask the owner first.
- Be careful about attempting to pet or tease a dog behind a fence. Dogs tend to be very protective.
- If a loose dog approaches, do not run or scream. Avoid eye contact.
- If knocked to the ground by a dog, curl up and be still.
To learn more about dog bite prevention or services available at Southeastern Plastic Surgery, P.A., visit SPS online at se-plasticsurgery.com or find them on Facebook. Southeastern Plastic Surgery, P.A. is located at 2030 Fleischmann Road in Tallahassee, FL and can be reached at (850) 219-2000.