Young children are at the greatest risk for Jacksonville dog bites in the summer and are especially vulnerable to severe bites in the head and neck areas, say researchers who analyzed 84 cases of dog bites in children.
It’s not clear why children are more likely to suffer dog bite injuries in the summer, but it may be because children spend more time outdoors playing with dogs in warmer months, the researchers suggested. Or it may be that dogs are generally more irritable in hot weather.
The study found that 27 percent of dog bite injuries were caused by family pets. The most common sites of bites to the head and neck were the cheeks (34 percent), lips (21 percent), and nose and ears (both 8 percent). Sixty-four percent of the children suffered dog bite wounds in more than one location, and the average wound size was 7.15 centimeters. Parents should teach children to not scream and run around strange dogs. If a child is confronted by an aggressive dog they should stand like a tree. Children should also be taught to never bother a dog while it is eating, sleeping or tending to it’s puppies. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a Jacksonville dog attack contact the Law Offices of Henry Gare at (904) 387-6101.