OUT & ABOUT
SAFETY – Animal and Desert Critter Safety
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Page: Dog Bites
– Desert
Critter Safety
Man and woman's best friend, although cute
and lovable, bite more than 4.7 million people a year. In some cases biting escalates to viscious
attacks that have proven lethal for some children. As with other untintentional injuries, dog bites are preventable.
Teach children basic
safety around dogs and review regularly:
Do Not approach an unfamiliar dog.
Do Not run from a dog and scream.
Remain
motionless (e.g.,
"be still like a tree") when approached by an unfamiliar dog.
Roll into a ball, covering your face
and neck with your hands and lie still if knocked over by a dog.
Do Not play with a dog unless supervised
by an adult.
Report stray dogs or dogs displaying unusual
behavior to an adult immediately.
Avoid direct eye contact with a dog.
Do Not disturb a dog that is sleeping,
eating, or caring for puppies.
Do not pet a dog without allowing it to
see and sniff you first.
Report a bite to an adult immediately.
Our desert
is home to many creepy, crawly animals that typically come out of hiding in
mild to hot weather. Some of these critters
look scary but are mostly harmless, while others can be as dangerous as they
look! To avoid an unexpected encounter with desert creatures:
Never turn rocks or other objects over
with your hands.
Never reach into dark corners or areas
without checking for critters.
Never walk outside without shoes,
especially at night when most venomous desert animals venture out.
Never hike or walk through the desert
without protecting your lower extremities with boots and long pants.
Never tease or play with desert animals.
In the
event of a bite or sting contact the Arizona
Poison Control Center for treatment information at 1-800-222-1222. If an
individual is bitten and has trouble breathing, call 911 IMMEDIATELY!