Responding to Raccoon Bites
Anyone who’s ever been camping knows that raccoons go wherever they can find food. Even if you’re being careful with your trash, hiding your food, and taking all the other precautions, you can find yourself with some unwanted visitors poking around the campsite looking for sustenance.
Raccoons, like all wild animals, are potentially dangerous. They can carry all number of diseases, including rabies, which can be fatal if not properly treated. Additionally, raccoons are quiet nocturnal animals and can be present without you being able to see or hear them. Like most animals, they can respond violently when they are cornered or feel threatened. This can often result in bites.
Seeking Treatment
If you are bitten by a raccoon, you need to take action as quickly as possible:
- Call 911 immediately. It is important to seek medical attention as soon as you can. Tell the paramedics what happened and how. Try to be as specific as possible so that they are better able to treat you.
- Try to keep track of the animal. Animal Control will want to capture and test the animal for rabies, so it is best if you can see where the animal is. However, this is not to say that you should put yourself at additional risk for another bite. Keep a safe distance from the animal.
If you are able to follow these steps, you will be better able to help the doctors with your treatment and will be in less medical danger.
Contact Us
If you have been the victim of an animal attack due to someone else’s negligence, contact the Clearwater personal injury lawyers of Tragos & Sartes, P.L., by calling 727-441-9030.
