The following article was written by the McClatchy Newspapers, and was published in the Albuquerque Journal on January 16, 2012. The article title reads;
"If bitten, act fast, say rabies experts!"
And, the subtitle reads;
"Once symptoms show, it's too late!"
The newspaper article reads;
"Rabies is no joke once you show symtoms of the viral disease...it's invarably fatal! But, if you suffer a bite or scratch, you can protect yourself from that and other infections, by acting quickly says Valeria Thompson, environmental health supervisor for the Virginia Health, Va., Department of Public Health. "Report all bites and scratches and go to your doctor," Thompson says.
More tips;
CLEAN THE WOUND IMMEDIATLY; Wash it with lots of warm water, soapy water to kill viruses and bacteria, and apply an antiseptic solution for extra protection. Do this even it is a bite or a scratch...or is very small. Seek emergency care if a wound is deep or bleeding heavily.
QUICKLY REPORT ATTACKS BY WILD ANIMALS; Animals that are aggressive or agitated enough to approach you have a good chance of being rabid. Call your local public health department for advice, which likely will involve getting a series of anti-rabies vaccines.
REPORT STRAYS; If you don't recognize a dog or cat, call the health dipartment and animal control with as many details as possible on the animal's appearance and location; if it can be caught and stays healthy during a ten day quarantine period; you may not need treatment. Cats are more likely to be rabid than dogs, so report scratches, too.
REMINDER; SITE MAP; For Hopelessly Lost Souls
My Two-Cents:
Within about a mile diameter of where I live, I walk everywhere...to the post office; the library; the grocery store, etc. One day, I was walking to the grocery store, when I noticed a big dog down the side-street just wondering around. (Rottweiler). I was indecisive as to whether or not I should take a short-cut to the grocery store. As it turned out, I was STUPID for taking this route. Unbeknownst to me, a neighbor had already called the animal control on this dog...so I looked around and carried a stick...just in case.
I crossed the street from the dog, who was just sniffing around in the gutter across from me, and in an instant...he attacked me! At the age of 66, I had never seen the teeth of a Rottweiler coming at me...but now, I would get an opportunity of a lifetime to see those awful teeth...up close and personal...and coming at me!
I was terrified, as the dog ran toward me, and as he got closer to me, I broke the stick I was carrying over his head, and the stick broke apart, and it didn't even phase him. Lucky for me, and at that instant, the animal control van screeched around the corner, and parked across the street. The dog...noticing this...took off running, as two occupants of the van got out, with nets, and chased the dog back into a backyard! (probably where he came from).
Terrified...I continued to the grocery store, and after I conducted my business, I was not going to go down that street again. But, I still saw the animal control van parked there, so I decided to go down that same street again. The animal control officer noticed me, and waved me to come over across the street. The owner of the dog was out there, too, and the four of us were in a conversation. The owner of the dog was quite apologetic, and assured me that it would never happen again. One of the animal control then handed me a clip-board, with a form on it, and told me if I wanted to complain, to fill out the form.
I used the hood of the van to fill out the form, and again, the owner of the dog was apologetic. I gave the form to the animal control officer! What a terrifying experience it was for me! The year or so, that I lived in that neighborhood...I never again went down that street again!
NEWSPAPER ARTICLE CONTINUES...
CHECK PAPERWORK ON NEIGHBORHOOD PETS; You may not want to report an incident if you know the animal and its owners, but don't just accept rabies tags as proof of vacccination...they may have expired. Ask to see current documents from a vet; state laws require rabies shots every three years.
WATCH THE WOUND FOR INFECTION; Aside from the rabies issue, call a doctor about swelling and redness, including red streaks on surrounding skin...and pus or cloudy discharge."
END OF ARTICLE;
Do me a favor...if you ever see the teeth of a Rottweiler coming at you...think of me...won't you?
REMINDER; SITE MAP; For Hopelessly Lost Souls
Copyright; 2012; Jerry Aragon; The Humor Doctor
