How You Can Help Prevent Your Child from Being Attacked by a Dog

Several recent studies relating to dog bites and dog attacks show that children are most commonly affected by such incidents. Most studies show that the median age of those bitten by dogs is 15 years. The highest incidence is among boys between 5 and 9 years old. The odds that a dog bite victim will be a child are 3.2 to 1, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Children are also more likely to sustain severe injuries and are more likely than adults to be bitten on the face, neck and head. Nearly 75 percent of dog bite injuries to children under 10 years old are facial injuries. Most children also require extensive reconstructive surgery to fix scars and psychological therapy to help them deal with the trauma of the dog attack.

However, please remember that you can help your child be prepared or help him or her prevent such a horrific attack. Make sure you teach your child the following safety tips and review them regularly. Here are a few safety tips provided by Kirk Bernard that you can share with your child:

• Never, ever provoke a dog
• Do not approach a strange or unfamiliar dog
• If you see a dog, do not run or scream
• If an unfamiliar dog approaches you, remain motionless, stand still where you are
• If you see a stray dog or loose dogs running around the neighborhood, report it to a grown-up
• Avoid making eye contact with a dog
• Never disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating or caring for its puppies
• If you are bitten, immediately report it to an adult

If your child has been bitten by a dog, please contact an experienced Washington dog bite lawyer to find out more about your legal rights. Please contact the Seattle dog bite lawyers at The Bernard Law Group. We always offer FREE, comprehensive and confidential consultations for Seattle dog bite victims. Call us at 1-800-418-8282 or e-mail us at info@bernardlawgroup.com. We can also send you our FREE brochure about Washington dog bite cases with useful educational information to help you understand your legal rights and options. Please contact Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.