First Aid for Animal Bites



First Aid for Animal Bites

© American Institute of Preventive Medicine

The most common animal bites in the United States are from dogs, cats and other humans in that order. Less common, but often more dangerous, are bites from

skunks, raccoons, bats and other animals that live in the wild. The health risks of an animal bite depends on the animal and how severe the bite is. Risks include:

Rabies - a serious and often fatal viral infection of the central nervous

system. The virus is transmitted to humans through the saliva of the

infected animal. (Only warm-blooded animalscan carry rabies.)

Poison - from these snakes: rattlesnake, copperhead, coral, and water

moccasin; from spiders - the worst ones being black widows tarantulas and the brown recluse.

Bleeding

Infection

Lyme Disease - a bacterial infection spread by deer tick bites

Lockjaw - painful, persistent stiffness of the jaw due to a toxin which can be prevented with up- to-date tetanus immunizations

In the United States, particularly in the northeastern states, skunks, raccoons, bats and foxes are the main carriers of rabies. Most house pets, though, are vaccinated for rabies and are unlikely to carry the virus. Rabid animals can show these signs:

strange behavior such as activity by day for animals that are normally active

by night agitation, lack of fear of humans, foaming at the mouth

Anti-venom treatment is available for poisonous snake bites at emergency medical

facilities. It needs to be given within four hours after the bite.

Prevention

Here are some ways to prevent animal bites:

Never leave a small child alone with a dog or cat, even if it's a puppy or kitten. Teething as well as excited pets have been known to bite.

Teach children not to tease an animal. Tell them not to wave sticks, throw stones or pull a tail.

Do not move suddenly or scream around an animal. Don't rush up to a dog until you know for sure that it is friendly. Sudden movements and loud noises can scare animals and cause them to attack.

Leave pet dogs and cats alone while they are eating or sleeping.

Do not feed wild animals with your hands.

Do not pick up a sick or injured animal.

Do not run from a strange dog.

Do not keep wild animals as pets.

Wear heavy boots when walking in areas snakes live.

To prevent Lyme Disease:

Wear long pants tucked into socks and long-sleeve shirts when walking through fields and forests, when camping, hiking and the like. (Light colored, tightly woven clothing is best.) Inspect for ticks after these activities.

First Aid

For Dog and Cat Bites:

Wash the bite area immediately with soap and warm water for 5 minutes to remove any saliva and other debris. If the bite is deep, flush the wound with

water for ten minutes to protect against infection. Dry the wound with a clean towel.

If the wound is swollen, apply ice wrapped in a towel for ten minutes. Check your records or call your doctor or health department to see the date of the last tetanus shot. Have the victim get a tetanus shot if not up-to-date.

If the bite hurts, take acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen sodium to relieve the pain. .

For Non-Poisonous Snake Bites:

Gently wash the site with soap and water. Treat the bite as a minor wound. (See "Scrapes and Punctures")

Consult a health care provider if you notice signs of infection.

For Deer Tick Bites:

Remove any ticks found on the skin. Use tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull gently and carefully in a steady upward motion at the point where the tick's mouthpart enters the skin. Try not to crush the tick because the secretions released may spread disease.

Wash the wound area and your hands with soap and water after removing ticks. Save the tick in a closed jar of alcohol. It could help in diagnosing Lyme

Disease.

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