10 Things You Can Do to Protect Your Child from a Southern California Dog Bite

Children are trusting.  They don’t have the same experiences as adults and therefore, don’t have many of the same apprehensions, which can be a good or bad thing.  When it comes to animals, this lack of experience can lead to a brutal dog attack.  Children are often the victims of dog bites.  They are not afraid to approach a strange dog and they are frequently in the same locations as canines, such as parks and neighborhoods.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 4.7 million dog bites occur annually in our country.  When you think about this staggering number, it reinforces the need to teach your children how to be safe around dogs.

The CDC has created a list of ten things that you can teach your child to help them prevent a California dog bite.  This list includes the following:

1.    Never approach a strange dog.
2.    Do not scream and run away from a canine.
3.    If an unfamiliar dog approaches, “be still like a tree.”
4.    Roll into a ball and lie still if a dog knocks you over.
5.    An adult needs to provide supervision when a dog is around.
6.    Report stray dogs immediately.
7.    Don’t look at a dog directly in the eye.
8.    Stay away from a dog that is sleeping, eating or caring for puppies.
9.    Allow a dog to see and sniff you before petting it.
10.  Report a dog bite to an adult.

Contact Steinberg & Spencer Injury Lawyers at 800-350-8888 to find out your legal rights following an Southern California dog attack.