The bite-should be on food, not on baby
As I researched on the content of this story, I was reminded of a story that happened several years ago, at our village in Bungoma. That fateful morning, my two younger sisters had been sent to the shops to buy breakfast when they spotted a wild dog walking by the roadside. In an attempt to scare the dog away, one of them uttered a word to the dog and at the same time started running away. Before they knew it, the dog which was following after them pounced on her and bit her leg.
The point I am trying to make is that animal bites usually are either provoked or unprovoked.
A provoked bite occurs if you tease an animal like what my sister did or you try to take away their food especially when they are eating. On the other hand, an unprovoked bite may occur if you are sitting calmly at a place and an animal comes from the woods and attacks you without any aggravation.
Who is at risk of animal bites?
Although different animals that range from dogs, cats, rats, squirrels can bite adults and children alike, studies have shown that most of the time children are the main victims. Often, the bites are from the family pet. According to a study by Mathews and Lattal, over one million animal bites occur every year and over 65 per cent of those cases involve children. The study goes on to explain more cases of biting were on boys than girls.
Another study by Sack in 1989 indicated that 70 per cent of the children killed by dogs were 10 years and under 22 per cent under the age of one year, the remaining eight per cent being sleeping infants. Adults are also at risk though males are more likely than females to be bitten.
You may need to understand that dog bites pose a higher risk of infection because of the crushing mechanism of the bite. Cat bites on the other hand puncture while wild animals expose the victim to the risk of contracting rabies.
Seek medical treatment immediately
Once it comes to your attention that someone in your family has been bitten by an animal, it is advisable to rush the victim to the hospital for evaluation. This is because of the risk of infections, due to:
■ Risk of foreign material like broken teeth and dirt in the wound.
■ Possible damages to nerves and blood vessels that may result in excessive bleeding.
■ Weakness or numbness of the area or another area away from the bite.
To prevent animal bites, take note of the following even before you bring a pet into your home:
■ Consult an animal specialist such as veterinarian or a responsible breeder to establish what pet is best for you and how to take care of them.
■ Incase you notice any aggressive behavior in your pet, seek advice.
■ Get a proper history of the animal and try to avoid those that have a history of aggression.
■ Spend time with pets before buying them.
■ Exercise caution especially when you have a toddler. Never leave your baby alone with a dog.
Teach your children some basics:
■ Teach them to avoid approaching unfamiliar animals.
■ Train them not to run away from a dog or even scream but instead remain motionless, the dog will soon just walk away.
■ If knocked over by a dog, teach your children to roll into a ball and lie still.
■ Avoid playing with any animals unless under an adult’s supervision.
■ Encourage your children to report any stray dogs or cats and if you notice the animal has unusual behavior, report to the officers concerned.
■ Avoid direct eye contact with a dog and do not disturb an animal that is sleeping, eating or caring for their young ones.
END: BL37/35