~ NEW ~  TEACHING FIRST GRADE STUDENTS TO BE SAFE AROUND DOGS

Dog bite related-injuries represent one of the major sources of morbidity, mortality, disability, and health care cost in the United States.  Man’s best friend bites approximately 4.7 million people in the U.S. annually.  Approximately 800,000 of those bitten, with more than half being children, require medial attention.

 A national survey conducted by the American Veterinary Medical Association in 1996 estimated that 37.8% of households in Nevada owned dog(s) with a total dog population of 358,000.  Since the human population has increase since 1996, no doubt the dog population has done likewise.  In 2002, there were 3,876 dog and cat bites that were investigated by animal control officers.

 A study conducted in Nevada from 1999 to 2001 identified 7,020 dog bite victims.   The average dog bite victim that had inpatient hospitalization spent over three days in the hospital and incurred over $10,000 in hospital charges.  During the three-year study dog bite related-injuries cost the victims $1,920,817 per year. More persons under 10 years of age were hospitalized over night due to a dog bite than 10-19 year olds, 20-29 year old, and 30-39 year olds combined.  The outpatient hospitalization rate for less than 10 year olds was 212.32 per 100,000 population, which is almost double the total rate for all ages of 110.87 per 100,000. 

 The complete study can be found at: http://health2k.state.nv.us/nihds/publications/Dbite2002.pdf
    
Since children age 5-9 year olds were found to be at the greatest risk of having a negative experience with dogs, a school dog safety program was instituted in 1998 to help address this problem.   This educational approach was developed incorporating the services of school nurses, animal control officers and first grade teachers with the goal of teaching appropriate dog bite prevention behaviors to first grade students.  The presenters use a standardized lesson plan for teaching the prevention guidelines, The Fido! Friend or Foe? Activity Books, provided by the State Farm Insurance Companies are used to reinforce the teaching points. This program has been well received by the school elementary principals and the students.   Approximately 26,000 first grade students receive this education every year.  

Useful Links:

CDC, National Center for Injury Prevention Control - Hospitalizations for Dog Bite Injures

Face Laceration - Dog Bite Injuries

National Library of Medicine - Incidence of Dog Bite Injuries Treated in Emergency Departments