ENA Injury Prevention Institute/EN CARE
Changing behavior. Saving lives.
DOG BITE FACTS
Deaths and Injuries
◗ Every year 4.7 million Americans are bitten by dogs,
◗ In recent years, among purebreds, Rottweilers were
60% of these victims are children.1,2 most commonly involved in fatal attacks, followed
by Pit bull-type dogs, German Shepherds, Husky-
◗ type, and Malamute.5 Among crossbreds, Wolf-
Each year nearly 800,000 dog bites require medical Dog Hybrid and Mixed breeds were the most
attention. Of those, approximately 386,000 people commonly involved in fatal attacks.5
require treatment in an emergency department.1,2,3
◗ Un-neutered dogs are more than 2.6 times more
◗ Approximately 12 people die from dog bites every year.2 likely to bite than neutered dogs. Male dogs are
6.2 times more likely to bite than female dogs.6
◗ Almost half of typical dog bite victims are children
younger than 14 years of age.4
◗ Hospital expenses for dog bite-related emergency
visits are estimated at $102.4 million.7
◗ Injury rates are highest for children age 5-9 years,
especially boys.4
Emergency nurses have an obligation to educate
Body Part Injured 2001 Emergency Percent (%)
other health professionals and the public on
Room Incidents4
healthy and safe lifestyles. In emergency
Head/Neck 83,946 22.8
departments, much of the traumas that are
Upper Trunk 5,036 1.4 seen are preventable. It is often impossible to
Lower Trunk 14,432 3.9 repair the broken bodies and shattered lives
Arm/Hand 166,756 45.3 that result from trauma. A general goal of the
Leg/Foot 94,848 25.8 ENA Injury Prevention Institute /EN CARE is to
reduce preventable injuries and deaths by
Other 2,328 .6
raising awareness, providing education, and
Totals 368,245 100
promoting healthy lifestyles.
Last updated April 13, 2006
ENA Injury Prevention Institute/EN CARE
915 Lee Street, Des Plaines, Illinois 60016-6569
INJURY
PREVENTION
INSTITUTE
Phone: 847- 460-4112 Fax: (847) 460-4005
E-mail: ipinstitute@ena.org
ENA Injury Prevention Institute/EN CARE
Changing behavior. Saving lives.
DOG BITE PREVENTION TIPS
Preventing Dog Bites Things to Consider Before You Get a Dog
◗ Teach children basic safety around dogs and review
◗ Consult with a professional (e.g., veterinarian,
regularly: animal behaviorist, or responsible breeder) to learn
◗ Do not approach an unfamiliar dog.3,7 about suitable breeds of dogs for your household.3
◗ ◗ Dogs with histories of aggression are inappropriate
Do not run from a dog and scream.3,4,7
in households with children.3
◗ Remain motionless (e.g., “be still like a tree”) when ◗
approached by an unfamiliar dog.3,7 Be sensitive to cues that a child is fearful or appre-
hensive about a dog and, if so, delay acquiring a
◗ If knocked over by a dog, roll into a ball and lie still dog.3
(e.g., “be still like a log”).3,5,15 ◗
◗ Spend time with a dog before buying or adopting
Do not play with a dog unless supervised by an adult.3 it. Use caution when bringing a dog into the home
of an infant or toddler.3
◗ Immediately report stray dogs or dogs displaying
unusual behavior to an adult.3
◗ Spay/neuter virtually all dogs (this frequently
◗ reduces aggressive tendencies).3
Avoid direct eye contact with a dog.3 ◗ Never leave infants or young children alone with
◗ Do not disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating, or caring any dog.3
for puppies.3 ◗ Do not play aggressive games with your dog
◗ Do not pet a dog without allowing it to see and sniff (e.g., wrestling).3
you first.3 ◗
◗ Properly socialize and train any dog entering the
If bitten, immediately report the bite to an adult.3 household. Teach the dog submissive behaviors
(e.g., rolling over to expose abdomen and
relinquishing food without growling).3
◗ Immediately seek professional advice (e.g., from
veterinarians, animal behaviorists, or responsible
breeders) if the dog develops aggressive or
Last updated April 13, 2006 undesirable behaviors.3
Emergency nurses have an obligation to educate other health professionals and the public on healthy and safe lifestyles. In
emergency departments, much of the traumas that are seen are preventable. It is often impossible to repair the broken bodies
and shattered lives that result from trauma. A general goal of the ENA Injury Prevention Institute /EN CARE is to reduce
preventable injuries and deaths by raising awareness, providing education, and promoting healthy lifestyles.
ENA Injury Prevention Institute/EN CARE
915 Lee Street, Des Plaines, Illinois 60016-6569
Phone: 847- 460-4112 Fax: (847) 460-4005
E-mail: ipinstitute@ena.org
ENA Injury Prevention Institute/EN CARE
Changing behavior. Saving lives.
DOG BITE FACTS
REFERENCES
Parenthood.com (2004). Beware the Bite! Retrieved April 4, 2006 from
http://www.parenthood.com/articles.html?article_id=3961
American Veterinary Medical Association (2006). Dog Bite Fact Sheet. Retrieved April 4, 2006 from
http://avma.org/press/publichealth/dogbite/factsheet.asp
Center for Disease Control, (2006, March). National Dog Bite Prevention Week. Retrieved April 4, 2006 from
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/biteprevention.htm
Centers for Disease Control (2003, July). Nonfatal Dog Bite-Related Injuries Treated in Hospital Emergency
Departments – United States, 2001, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Retrieved April 5, 2006 from
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5226a1.htm
Sacks, J.J., Sinclair, L., Gilchrist, J. Golab, S.C., & Lockwood, R. (2000). Breeds of dogs involved in fatal human
attacks in the United States between 1979 and 1998. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 217(6),
836-840.
DrKlein.net Health Matters (2000, March). Dog bite statistics. Retrieved April 5, 2006 from
http://www.drklein.net/_disc1/00000031.htm
St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center (n.d.). Preventing Dog Bites. Retrieved February 17, 2004 from
http://www.sthuberts.org/petpouri/articles/dogbites.asp
FURTHER READINGS
American Academy of Family Physicians (2001, April). Preventing Dog Bites. Retrieved April 7, 2006 from
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20010415/1573ph.html
American Society of Plastic Surgeons (2004). Dog Bite Awareness: Beware the Bite!. Retrieved April 7, 2006 from
http://www.plasticsurgery.org/public_education/Dog-Bite-Awareness.cfm
American Veterinary Medical Association (2006). Dog Bite Prevention Message Points. Retrieved April 4, 2006 from
http://avma.org/press/publichealth/dogbite/messpoints.asp
American Veterinary Medical Association (2006). A Community Approach to Dog Bite Prevention.
Retrieved April 4, 2006 from http://www.avma.org/public_health/dogbite/dogbite.pdf
Dog Bite Law (1999 – 2001). Dog Bite Statistics. Retrieved April 5, 2006 from
http:/ www.dogbitelaw.com/PAGES/teach.htm
National Animal Interest Alliance (2003). Are there too many dogs and cats? Retrieved April 7, 2006 from
http://www.naiaonline.org/body/articles/archives/overpop1.htm
Texas Department of Health (2000 – 2004). Animal Bite Reporting: Why should I bother reporting?
Retrieved April 7, 2006 from http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/zoonosis/animcont/BITERPT/BITEREP.ASP
The Humane Society of the United States (2004). Avoiding Dog Bites. Retrieved April 7, 2006 from
http://www.hsus.org/ace/11764
RESOURCES
American Veterinary Medical Association (2004).Educational Resources for Dog Bite Prevention.
Retrieved April 7, 2006 from http://www.avma.org/pubhlth/dogbite/
ENA Injury Prevention Institute/EN CARE
915 Lee Street, Des Plaines, Illinois 60016-6569
INJURY
PREVENTION
INSTITUTE
Phone: 847- 460-4112 Fax: (847) 460-4005
E-mail: ipinstitute@ena.org