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A bite from an animal is painful, and it could lead to serious injuries. However, if you are ever bit by a dog, snake, or any other animal, there are a few steps you can take to help manage the situation until you get medical care.
Are you curious to learn how to how to handle things if you or a loved one is bit by an animal? If so, check out these animal bite treatment tips below.
Call 911
There are certain circumstances that require an emergency 911 call. When an individual is severely wounded, calling 911 is the smartest thing to do to prevent lasting injuries or a fatality.
If the person is deeply wounded and the bleeding doesn’t stop after 10 minutes of applying firm pressure, that’s an indicator to get them to the hospital. Also, if the blood spurts from the wound and there is excessive bleeding, get them to the hospital stat!
Stop the Bleeding
Even if you recognize that the situation doesn’t require emergency medical care, you should still try to stop the bleeding. Apply direct pressure on the wound until the bleeding stops. Find a clean towel, cloth, or t-shirt, wrap it around the wound, and hold it tightly in place. After a few minutes, you should notice the reduction in blood flow from the wound.
Clean and Protect the Wound
After the bleeding has stopped, you should clean the damaged area. For a superficial wound, gently clean it with soap and warm water and rinse the area for several minutes after cleaning it.
Next, apply antibiotic cream to minimize the risk of infection. This is definitely important if the person has been bitten by a dog. Next, cover the wound with a sterile bandage.
Get Medical Attention
Even if the injured person doesn’t have to immediately go to the hospital, they still need to see a doctor. Sometimes an animal bite can get worse if it’s not properly treated. Cleaning the wound and putting antibiotic cream on it might not be enough to stop the wound from getting worse.
Notify the Proper Authorities
If you were bit by a neighborhood animal, check with that animal’s owner to verify that they are up to date on their rabies shots. When you get that information, give it to your healthcare provider.
Also, if you are bit by a stray animal, call your local animal control or health department to notify them.
If you’ve been bitten by an animal, see more information at the highlighted link about how an attorney can help you.
Managing Animal Bite Treatment
As you can see, there’s a lot that you can do to manage an animal bite, whether you’re the person bit or you’re around someone who has been bit. Just be sure to pay close attention to the individual’s symptoms and get them medical attention as soon as possible.
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