So, what should parents do first if their child is bitten by domestic or wild animals? First aid tactics presuppose first stopping bleeding, if it exists, of course. Next, treat the wound and apply a bandage to it. Here I want to emphasize a few important points. First, you need to properly process not only the wound directly, but also the place around it, where the saliva of the animal has got, with a soap solution. This must be done, even if the skin around is not outwardly affected. Secondly, before applying the bandage to the bitten place, you need to lubricate it with antibacterial ointment. And, thirdly, do not apply the bandage tightly, do not and seal the wound with a band-aid.
What is so dangerous is the wound inflicted by a wild animal (the same danger lies in the wound that caused the pet)? The matter is that after a bite there is a huge risk of infection of the child with bacteria, which in huge quantity "live" in the saliva of the animal. So, among particularly dangerous diseases, which can be picked up from the animal, I want to note tetanus and rabies.
Parents need to remember that if the baby was bitten by an animal, while violating the skin (that is, there is a burned wound), or the baby was wounded, and the saliva of the animal got there - this means that you can not postpone the trip to a medical institution minute. There are, of course, a couple of cases when you can do without a doctor. For example, if a child has been bitten by an animal, in the cleanliness and health of which you are sure (this can be your favorite pet, which you yourself took to all vaccinations). Do not worry if the bite does not harm the baby's skin.
Special attention and urgent treatment for medical care requires a number of the following cases:
1) the animal has injured the neck, arms or face of the child;
2) if after a bite you saw some manifestations of infection of the wound with bacteria - that is, redness appeared, the bitten place swelled, pain accumulated, pus oozed, and temperature increases;
3) if you know for sure that the baby was not vaccinated with tetanus vaccine; if you are in doubt - if this vaccine was done - contact a doctor immediately).
Remember! Rabies is a very dangerous disease, it can be prevented by making the right vaccine, but if a person does get sick, he does not have a chance to survive. One of this fact is enough not to neglect the danger in case of bite by stray or unfamiliar pets.
Now let's say a little bit about the fact that a healthy pet will never just pounce on a person like that. That is, if your child approached a foreign dog, started pulling at her hair, poking his fingers in the nose or pulling at his ear, tried to take his feed from him, took the small puppy from his mother - in these cases there is a huge risk that the animal will attack a child who broke his peace. And do not blame the animal - you need to carefully monitor the fact that the child is less in contact with other people's pets. But if the animal attacked suddenly, for no reason - this is the first sign that it is most likely unhealthy. And the danger of catching something from such an animal is much greater than from a calm and non-aggressive. Even if the animal that bit the child is small and seemingly innocuous, it is still a danger.
Wild animals are a special topic for conversation. And it is necessary to begin with the fact that no adequate animal will approach a person of its own free will, wagging its tail or expressing a general disposition. Therefore, if you rest on the forest edge and see that a small fox or badger is approaching you with ingratiating gentleness - this is not a reason for joy, it is an excuse to escape and hide from the little animal. For she, undoubtedly, is sick, if she is looking for a meeting with her blood enemy-man. A wild animal must be wild - it must be afraid and run away from you.
However, we also note that you can not get rabies from a fish or, say, a turtle - since this disease is affected only by warm-blooded animals.
So, as you already knew, if an animal that you see for the first time has attacked your child, if it inflicted a bitten wound and disappeared, you need to immediately run to the doctor. By the way, doctors are advised also to observe the bitten animal, if you have such an opportunity. However, this does not mean that you do not need to go to the hospital. You need to observe at least ten days. What for? In order to follow its behavior: if it is quite adequate, the animal eats well and drinks, if it is active - it means, it's great, and you can not be afraid that it infects your baby. But still the owner of the animal who attacked the person, is simply obliged to show the pet to the veterinarian, and it is urgent.
Now - a couple of words about preventive measures, which should be adhered to rigorously - and then dangerous situations are unlikely to arise.
1. Always watch the baby and do not leave him alone with the animal.
2. Unfamiliar dogs and cats - this is not an object for the passionate grasp of your baby. Try to explain it to him as easily as possible. He must always remember that an unfamiliar cute doggie is an object for distant admiration, and certainly not for ironing. Approach them is impossible - and the point. Especially do not throw them objects or tease barking, chasing them through the park.
3. Especially dangerous are those dogs (and other animals, in principle, however dogs react very sharply to disturbance), who take food, take care of their fluffy brood, or peacefully sleep, curled up in a ball. They, of course, are especially interesting at these moments and are nice, but they are as dangerous as they are.
4. Noticing the approach of an unfamiliar dog, you can not run away from it, scream and even move. This should be taught and his crumbs. You can not also look the dog in the eyes.
5. Being knocked down by a dog from the legs, do not attempt to stand up, but squeeze more into the ball and do not move.
6. If a familiar dog approaches you - do not rush to caress him, let him sniff the child and you, recognize his own.
7. The dog should be ironed correctly: first the dog must sniff the handle, hands must be in sight so that the dog can see them. Do not iron the animal on the vertex.
8. See that the dog is ready to attack - try to throw him any object that would replace his victim (raincoat, backpack).
9. Stay away from wild animals, and especially from those that are meek, like pets.