When Children and Pets Collide

The curiosity of a child is something to cherish. It develops imagination and intuition and develops the learning ability of our littlest members of society. Unfortunately, this curiosity is not always a good thing. When children become curious about learning more about animals, tragic accidents can sometimes occur. Not every pet is sweet and not every owner is responsible. That is why it is important to know what the common pet-related accidents that happen to children are as well as what the common methods for treating the wounds are.

Common Accidents Involving Children and Pets

Although there are many instances where children can interact with pets and animals in a friendly and fun way, there are occasional disputes that can easily result in an injured kid. While the list of possible injuries stemming from interaction with a misbehaving pet is varied, there are quite a few injuries that are more likely to occur from a pet-related accident. These include:

· Scratches

· Bites

· Bruises

· Illness and disease infection

These injuries can vary significantly in severity and depend mostly on the condition and aggressiveness of the pet and the location of the injury.

Treatment for Animal Attacks

Each of the previously mentioned injuries, although they will vary in seriousness, can be treated in certain ways. These include:

· Scratches: Most scratches can be treated with a soap and water cleansing, but if the bleeding does not stop or the wound looks infected it is important to seek medical attention.

· Bites: Animal bites can be very serious. They infect easily and have the potential to spread disease. If you child has been bit by an animal you should clean the wound thoroughly and check for infection regularly. If you suspect the animal may have been ill or carrying a disease, it is important to seek medical attention for assistance.

· Bruises: There is little that can be done to treat bruises, but ice will help ease the child's pain.

· Illness and disease infection: As mentioned above in the "bites" section, animals are capable of severely infecting your child with a range of illnesses, such as rabies. It is important to analyze the animal which injured your child to assess whether or not your child was exposed to a potentially harmful disease. If so, you should schedule a doctor's visit immediately.

For More Information

It is truly heartbreaking whenever a child is harmed in an accident. By knowing what can happen and what steps to take it is possible to not only prevent accidents, but also be prepared should they occur. For more information on accident prevention or personal injury law, visit http://jacksonville-accidentattorney.com today.

Joseph Devine