child playing with dog (Photo : Reuters)
National Dog Bite Prevention Week, an attempt to reduce the yearly 4.5 million bites in the United States, will officially start Sunday. The event's various programs were launched on Thursday to educate kids how to prevent dog bites.
Canine bites result in about 16 U.S. deaths yearly, according to Fox-6 WBRC. However, specific figures are limited due to victims rarely seek any medical treatments, such as first aid.
The Insurance Information Institute reported that dog-related injuries such as bites also cost insurance companies $350 million last year. That is about one-third of their paid claims.
Dogs bit postal workers 5,767 times in 20145, a 3 percent increase from one year before. Linda DeCarlo, a manager for the U.S. Postal Service, explained that the most dog attacks happened in Los Angeles, Houston, and San Diego.
One of the main causes of mail carrier bites was when the dogs rushed outside after pet owners opened house windows and doors. This was more common during warm weather.
The uptick in dog bite statistics related to postmen was due to a surprising cause: online shopping. Postal workers must bring the packages to home doorsteps, instead of putting them inside roadside mailboxes.
However, children and senior citizens are the most vulnerable to dog violence. Children are the victims of over half of the yearly U.S. dog bites, according to Daily Herald.
It is important that children avoid certain actions when they are near dogs, and especially stray dogs. They should not approach injured or chained dogs; or bother eating, sleeping, or nursing dogs. If a canine charges the child should not flee or scream.
Aside from knowing what not to do around dogs, children should also know what to do. For example, they should ask a dog owner before they pet the pooch, and should first let it sniff their closed fist. Children should also always use a dog leash when walking their pets.
