Postal Employees are Frequent Dog Bite Victims

Last month, the U.S. Postal Service in collaboration with medical groups, dog breeding groups, pediatricians and insurers joined forces to raise awareness about dog bite-related injuries. According to the U.S. Postal Service, more than 5,600 postal employees are victims of dog bites every year. Overall, there are approximately 4.7 million dog bite attacks in the United States every year. Not every bite will result in a serious injury or even any kind of injuries at all. However, many dog bites result in serious injuries that include facial injuries, injuries to the scalp, and eye injuries. Burbank dog bite lawyers find that children, because of their tender age, size and lack of strength may be at a much higher risk of serious injuries in an attack. Children are not only at a higher risk of suffering serious injuries because of their fragility, but are also at a much higher risk of bites. Out of those 4.7 million dog bites every year, a majority involve children below the age of 5. In fact, children are 3 times more likely to be involved in a dog bite compared to adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as 20 people die from dog bite attacks every year. In 2011, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons estimates that more than 29,000 reconstructive surgeries had to be performed on persons who had been left severely injured as a result of a dog bite. An attack may last just a few seconds, but can leave a horrific impact. What dog owners must realize is that even the friendliest of dogs has the potential to bite. Dog owners must be responsible. Invest in socialization and dog training, secure your dog in public, and make sure that the dog is safely restrained inside your property.