First aid for Dog Bites to Prevent Rabies

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First-aid for dog bites

During my rotation in the Department of Surgery at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, I’ve encountered quite a number of lacerated wounds secondary to dog-bite referred by San Lazaro Hospital for suturing.   However, we don’t advise these kinds of wounds to be sutured because they are considered dirty.

                      

Instead, we just advised the following:

1. Wash the bite area vigorously with soap under running water for at least 15 minutes.
2. Apply any anti-septic like povidone iodine or 70% alcohol.
3. Do not cover the wound with bandage of plaster.
4. Do not put anything over the wound like pounded garlic, plant juices, coffee or chilli powder that are believe as cures.   These things are nonsterile and may just result to infected wounds.
5. Go to a nearest health center, physician or any hospital to get shots of vaccine immediately.