Dog Bite Prevention: Keeping Kids Safe

May 17-23 is National Dog Bite Prevention Week. The American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Society for Plastic Surgeons and others are teaming up to urge people to remember that as many as 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs each year. The most common victims of dog bites are children, who are more likely to suffer severe injury, especially to the head and neck. And according to a recent study, kids are at increased risk of being bitten by dogs in the summer. (Researchers aren’t sure why, but they think it has to do with the fact that more kids and dogs are outside in the summer months. They also think that dogs may be more easily irritated in warmer weather.) The injuries aren’t just happening when children encounter dogs they don’t know: According to the study, 27 percent of dog bites were caused by family pets.

Have you taught your child how to be safe around dogs? What do you think are the most important basic rules for safety around dogs?

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How to Prevent Your Dog from Causing Injury