Injury Prevention: The Complete Guide

Key numbers at a glance

How injuries happen and why most can be prevented

Safety experts tend to avoid the word "accident," because it suggests that injuries are random bad luck. In reality, most serious injuries follow patterns that repeat in home after home: a toddler who reaches an unfenced pool, an older adult who trips on a loose rug at night after taking a medicine that causes drowsiness, a teen driver glancing at a phone, a child who finds a loaded gun that an adult believed was hidden. Because the patterns are predictable, the fixes are too. Injuries are among the leading causes of death for children, teens and younger adults in the US, and they account for a large share of emergency room visits at every age.

The most useful idea in injury prevention is "layers of protection." No single step is perfect. Supervision lapses, gates get propped open and people forget. When several independent layers are in place, such as a pool fence, an adult watching the water, swim lessons and a household member who knows CPR, the failure of one layer is caught by the next. Throughout this guide you will see the same approach applied to sleep, cars, fire, poisoning and firearms.

It also helps to know that changes to the environment usually work better than relying on memory or good intentions. A locked medicine cabinet protects a child at two in the morning when an exhausted parent forgets to put a bottle away; a reminder on the refrigerator does not. Grab bars, smoke alarms, furniture anchors, car seats that are installed correctly and self-latching gates all work automatically, every day, without anyone having to think about them. Start with these "passive" protections, then add habits and teaching on top.

How injury risks change with age

Injury risks shift as people grow, because the things a person can reach, the places they go and the way their body responds to a fall or impact all change. Knowing what is typical for each stage helps you stay one step ahead rather than reacting after a close call. Plan for the next stage before your child reaches it.

Older adults face a different shift. Changes in vision, balance, muscle strength, reaction time and bone density, along with medicines that affect alertness or blood pressure, make falls both more likely and more harmful. A fall that would leave a younger person bruised can cause a broken hip or a head injury in someone in their eighties, particularly if they take a blood thinner.

• Babies under 1: sleep-related deaths, falls from beds and changing tables, choking, burns from hot drinks and bathwater, and car crashes.
• Toddlers and preschoolers: drowning, poisoning from medicines and household products, falls from windows and furniture, furniture and TV tip-overs, button batteries and dog bites.
• School-age children: car crashes, bike and scooter injuries, playground falls, sports injuries, drowning in open water and pedestrian injuries.
• Teens: motor vehicle crashes, sports concussion, drowning, firearm injuries, and suicide, which makes safe storage of medicines and firearms especially important.
• Adults: motor vehicle crashes, workplace injuries, poisoning including drug overdose, and falls from ladders and roofs.
• Older adults: falls at home, medicine mix-ups, pedestrian injuries, burns, and fire deaths in homes without working smoke alarms.

Safe sleep for babies

Sleep-related deaths, including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and accidental suffocation, are a leading cause of death in babies after the first month of life. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Institutes of Health Safe to Sleep campaign recommend the same core steps, and they apply to every sleep, naps as well as nights, with every caregiver: parents, grandparents, babysitters and child care staff.

Place your baby on their back on a firm, flat, level surface in a crib, bassinet or play yard that meets current safety standards. Keep the sleep space completely bare: no pillows, blankets, bumpers, positioners or soft toys. Babies cannot reliably move their face away from soft material, and back sleeping keeps the airway clear. Once a baby can roll both ways on their own, they can stay in the position they roll into, but you should still put them down on their back.

Share a room, not a bed, ideally for at least the first 6 months. Having the baby nearby makes night feeds easier and is linked to a lower risk of SIDS, while sharing an adult bed raises the risk of suffocation. The most dangerous situation is falling asleep with a baby on a couch or armchair, where the baby can become wedged against cushions. If you feed your baby in bed and may doze off, remove pillows and blankets from around the baby first, and move the baby back to their own sleep space as soon as you wake.

Several products marketed for sleep are not safe. Inclined sleepers, nursing pillows used for sleep, sleep positioners and weighted sleep sacks or blankets should not be used. If a baby falls asleep in a car seat, swing or stroller, move them to a flat sleep surface when you can. Breastfeeding, offering a pacifier at sleep time and keeping the baby away from smoke, vaping, alcohol and drugs all add protection. To keep your baby warm without loose bedding, use a wearable blanket and dress them in no more than one layer more than an adult would wear.

Car seats, seat belts and safer driving

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children in the US, and correctly used car seats and seat belts greatly reduce the risk of death and serious injury. The key word is "correctly." A seat that is loose, a harness that is too slack or a child moved to the next stage too early can all reduce protection. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the AAP recommend keeping each child in each stage for as long as possible, until they reach the top weight or height limit of their seat, rather than moving them up at a particular birthday.

Read the car seat manual and your vehicle manual together, since both contain instructions you need. Register your car seat with the manufacturer so you hear about recalls. Replace any car seat that has been in a moderate or severe crash or has passed its expiration date. Free inspections by certified child passenger safety technicians are widely available, and many parents discover that a seat they believed was secure can be improved.

Adults set the pattern. Buckle up on every trip, in every seat, including short trips around the neighborhood. A good seat belt fit for anyone means the lap belt lies across the upper thighs, not the stomach, and the shoulder belt crosses the chest and shoulder, not the neck. If you are pregnant, keep wearing your seat belt, with the lap belt low across your hips and below your belly and the shoulder belt between your breasts and to the side of your belly.

• Rear-facing: keep children rear-facing as long as possible, until they reach the highest weight or height their seat allows.
• Forward-facing with a harness: once a child outgrows the rear-facing limits of their seat.
• Booster seat: until the adult seat belt fits properly, usually at about 4 feet 9 inches (145 cm) tall, often between ages 8 and 12.
• Back seat: all children under 13 should ride in the back seat.
• Never place a rear-facing seat in front of an active airbag.
• Take off bulky winter coats before buckling a child in; tuck a blanket over the harness instead.

Teen drivers and distraction

New drivers are at the highest crash risk in their first months of driving alone. Inexperience, night driving, speeding, not wearing a seat belt and having teen passengers in the car all add to that risk. Most states use graduated driver licensing, which limits night driving and passengers while teens gain experience. Many families also write a parent-teen driving agreement that sets clear rules, such as no phone use at all while driving, and that adds privileges gradually. Distraction is not only a teen problem: putting your phone out of reach while driving protects you and models the behavior you want your children to copy.

Never leave a child alone in a vehicle

The inside of a parked car heats up quickly, even on mild days and with the windows cracked, and children's bodies heat up faster than adults'. Make a habit of checking the back seat every time you leave the car, for example by putting your bag or phone in the back. Keep cars locked and keys out of reach so children cannot climb in on their own. If you see a child alone in a hot car, call 911.

Water safety and drowning prevention

Drowning is a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4, and it is a serious risk for older children, teens and adults too. It rarely looks like the splashing and shouting seen in movies. A person who is drowning usually cannot call for help or wave; they slip under the surface quickly and silently, sometimes within arm's reach of other people. That is why supervision has to be close, constant and undistracted.

For young children, drowning most often happens in home pools and hot tubs, often during a time when they were not expected to be near the water, such as when an adult stepped inside to answer the phone. In babies, bathtubs are a major risk, and even a few inches of water in a bucket or toilet is enough. For older children, teens and adults, the risk shifts toward lakes, rivers and the ocean, where currents, cold water, distance from shore and alcohol all play a part.

The CDC and the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommend layers of protection. Install a four-sided fence at least 4 feet high that completely separates the pool from the house and yard, with a gate that is self-closing and self-latching. Swim lessons can lower drowning risk for children, but they never replace supervision. For boating and open water, use US Coast Guard-approved life jackets; air-filled toys such as water wings are not safety devices. Alcohol use is a factor in many adult and teen drownings, and drinking while supervising children is never safe.

• Assign a "water watcher" who does nothing but watch swimmers, and hand off the role clearly when they need a break.
• Stay within arm's reach of young children and weak swimmers in any water.
• Never leave a baby or toddler alone in or near a bathtub, even for a moment; take them with you if you must leave.
• Empty buckets, tubs and kiddie pools right after use and store them upside down.
• Learn CPR, and keep a phone near the pool so you can call 911 without leaving.
• If a child is missing, check the water first.

Preventing falls at home

Falls are the most common cause of injury at both ends of life. Young children fall because they climb before they understand height, and older adults fall because balance, strength, vision and reaction time decline while medicines and health conditions add new risks. In both groups, a large share of falls happen at home, where hazards can be fixed. Both groups respond well to prevention: a handful of changes to the home, combined with attention to health in older adults and supervision in young children, removes many of the most common causes.

Older adults

About 1 in 4 adults 65 and older reports falling each year, according to the CDC, and falls are a leading cause of injury and injury death in this age group. Falls can cause hip fractures and head injuries, and the fear of falling again can lead people to cut back their activity, which weakens muscles and makes the next fall more likely. Breaking that cycle is one of the most valuable things an older adult and their family can do.

Falls usually have several causes at once, so prevention works best on several fronts. Exercise that improves strength and balance, such as tai chi or a program designed by a physical therapist, is one of the most effective steps. A yearly eye exam catches vision changes, and outdated glasses should be replaced. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review all your medicines, since sleeping pills, some medicines for anxiety, depression, allergies and blood pressure, and combinations of several medicines can cause dizziness or drowsiness. Getting up slowly from bed or a chair helps if you feel lightheaded on standing. Your doctor can also check your feet, footwear and vitamin D and bone health.

At home, focus on the places where falls happen: stairs, bathrooms and the route to the bathroom at night. Install railings on both sides of stairs, grab bars inside and next to the tub or shower and next to the toilet, and nightlights in bedrooms, hallways and bathrooms. Remove throw rugs or secure them with double-sided tape, clear clutter and cords from walkways, and keep everyday items on lower shelves so you do not need a step stool. Wear shoes with thin, non-slip soles rather than socks or loose slippers on hard floors.

Babies and young children

For babies, the most common falls are from beds, couches and changing tables, so keep one hand on a baby on any raised surface and use the safety strap on high chairs and strollers. Baby walkers are linked to falls down stairs and the AAP advises against them. As children start climbing, install safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs, use window guards or window stops on upper floors (window screens keep bugs out but will not stop a child), and move furniture away from windows.

Furniture and TV tip-overs are a related danger. A child who climbs a dresser or pulls on a TV can bring it down on top of themselves. Anchor dressers, bookcases and TVs to the wall with anti-tip devices, put heavy items on low shelves and avoid placing toys or remote controls on top of furniture where children will try to reach them. On playgrounds, choose equipment with soft surfacing such as wood chips, mulch or rubber rather than grass or concrete.

Fire, burns and carbon monoxide

Home fires spread far faster than most people expect. The American Red Cross notes that you may have as little as 2 minutes to escape once a smoke alarm sounds, and heat and smoke can be more dangerous than the flames themselves. Working smoke alarms and a practiced escape plan are therefore the two most important protections. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside each bedroom and outside sleeping areas. Test them every month and replace any alarm that is 10 years old. Interconnected alarms, which all sound when one does, give extra warning in larger homes.

Make an escape plan with two ways out of every room, a meeting place outside, and a plan for anyone who needs help, such as babies, older adults or people with disabilities. Practice a home fire drill at least twice a year, including once at night. If there is a fire, get out, stay out and call 911 from outside; never go back in for belongings or pets.

Most home fires start in the kitchen, so stay in the kitchen while frying, grilling or broiling. Keep space heaters at least 3 feet from anything that can burn, and turn them off when you leave the room or go to sleep. Never smoke in bed, do not leave candles burning unattended, and keep matches and lighters out of children's reach. Teach children to "stop, drop and roll" if their clothes catch fire.

Scalds from hot drinks, cooking and bathwater are a common cause of burns in young children and older adults, whose skin burns more quickly. Keep hot drinks and pot handles out of reach, create a "no-kids zone" around the stove, and test bathwater before a child gets in. Turning your water heater down to a lower setting also reduces the risk of tap-water scalds; check the manufacturer's instructions before adjusting it.

Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas you cannot see or smell, produced by fuel-burning appliances, furnaces, generators, grills and cars. It causes headache, dizziness, nausea and confusion, and can kill people while they sleep. Install CO alarms on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas, have fuel-burning appliances checked yearly, and never run a generator, grill or camp stove indoors, in a garage or near a window. If a CO alarm sounds, get everyone outside to fresh air and call 911.

Poisoning prevention

Young children explore the world with their mouths, and they can open many containers faster than adults expect. Child-resistant caps slow children down but are not childproof. Many poisonings happen when an adult is nearby but distracted, or when medicines are in a purse, a visitor's bag or a weekly pill organizer left on a counter. Teens and adults face poisoning risks too, from mixing medicines, taking too much acetaminophen (Tylenol) across several products, mixing cleaning chemicals, and drug overdose.

Store medicines and chemicals up, away and out of sight, ideally locked. Put medicines away right after each use, keep products in their original labeled containers, and never store chemicals in food or drink containers. Do not call medicine "candy," which teaches children to seek it out. Dispose of unused medicines safely, for example at a pharmacy take-back kiosk or a community take-back event, so they cannot be taken by children or misused by teens and visitors.

Some products deserve special attention. Button batteries, found in remotes, key fobs, toys, greeting cards and hearing aids, can cause serious burns inside the throat within hours if swallowed. Laundry detergent packets, cannabis edibles that look like candy or cookies, and nicotine liquids for e-cigarettes can all cause severe poisoning in small children. Mixing bleach with ammonia or acids releases toxic gas, so use one cleaning product at a time in a well-ventilated room.

• Save the Poison Control number, 1-800-222-1222, in your phone and post it where babysitters can see it. It is free, confidential and open 24 hours a day.
• Call Poison Control right away for any suspected poisoning, even if the person seems fine; experts can tell you whether home care is enough.
• Do not make a person vomit after a possible poisoning.
• Go to the emergency room immediately if a child may have swallowed a button battery or a magnet.
• Call 911 if the person is unconscious, having a seizure or having trouble breathing.

Firearm storage and suicide prevention

If there are guns in your home, how they are stored is one of the most important safety decisions you make. Children and teens can find guns that adults believe are hidden, and a curious child may handle a gun without understanding that it is real or loaded. Teaching children not to touch a gun helps, but it is not enough on its own, because young children cannot reliably follow that rule when they find one.

The AAP and the CDC advise storing firearms unloaded and locked, with ammunition locked separately. Gun safes, lockboxes and cable or trigger locks all work when used every time a firearm is not in your direct control. Keep keys and combinations where children cannot find them. Never leave a loaded gun in a nightstand, a glove compartment or a bag.

Safe storage is also suicide prevention. Suicidal crises can be brief, and access to a firearm greatly raises the chance that an attempt will be fatal. If anyone in your home is going through a crisis, depression, substance use problems or a major loss, consider temporarily storing firearms outside the home, for example with a trusted relative or friend, or with a law enforcement agency or gun shop where that is allowed, until things improve. The same logic applies to large supplies of medicines.

Before your child visits or stays at another home, it is reasonable to ask whether there are guns and how they are stored, just as you might ask about pools, pets or allergies. A simple, friendly script helps, such as "We have a curious kid, so I always ask: are there any guns in the house, and are they locked up?" Most people take the question in stride, and if the answer is unclear, you can invite the children to play at your home instead.

Bikes, sports and concussion

Head injuries cause the most serious harm in bike crashes, and a properly fitted helmet lowers the risk. Choose a helmet labeled as meeting the Consumer Product Safety Commission standard, and fit it so it sits level on the head about two finger widths above the eyebrows, with the side straps forming a "V" under each ear and the chin strap snug enough that only one or two fingers fit underneath. Replace a helmet after any crash or impact, even if it looks fine. Make helmets a rule for adults as well as children, and use the right helmet for the activity, since bikes, skateboards, scooters and skiing each have their own designs.

On the road, ride in the same direction as traffic, obey signals and signs, and skip headphones and phone use. Wear bright clothing during the day and reflective gear at night, along with a white front light and a red rear reflector or light. Check brakes and tires before riding. Younger children are safest riding on sidewalks or paths away from traffic until they show they can handle the road.

Recognizing and managing concussion

A concussion is a brain injury caused by a blow or jolt to the head or body that makes the brain move rapidly inside the skull. Most people do not lose consciousness. Coaches and parents may notice an athlete who looks dazed, is confused about plays, moves clumsily, answers slowly or behaves differently. Athletes may report headache, nausea, dizziness, blurry vision, sensitivity to light or noise, or feeling foggy. Symptoms can appear right away or over the following hours.

The CDC HEADS UP program sums up the rule simply: when in doubt, sit them out. Remove an athlete from play right away if a concussion is suspected, with no return on the same day, and have them checked by a health care provider. Young athletes who keep playing risk a slower recovery and a more serious injury if they are hit again before the brain has healed. Recovery usually involves a short period of relative rest followed by a gradual, step-by-step return to school and then to sports, only after a health care provider says it is safe. Encourage athletes to report symptoms honestly; hiding them to stay in the game is a common and risky pattern.

Dog bite prevention

About 4.5 million people in the US are bitten by dogs each year, and children are the most likely to be bitten and seriously hurt, often by a dog they know, such as the family dog or a neighbor's. Young children are at face height for many dogs and do not yet read a dog's body language, so bites to the face, head and neck are more common in children than in adults.

Most bites follow warning signs. A dog that is stiff, has raised fur, growls, shows its teeth, has a tucked tail or turns its head away is asking for space. Teach children to leave dogs alone when they are eating, sleeping, chewing a toy or caring for puppies, to ask the owner before petting any dog, and to let the dog sniff them first. Never leave a baby or young child alone with any dog, however gentle it seems. If an unfamiliar dog approaches, stand still like a tree, avoid eye contact and stay calm, rather than running or screaming.

If a bite happens, wash the wound with soap and warm water right away. See a doctor for any bite that is deep, will not stop bleeding, is on the face or hands, shows redness, swelling or warmth, or comes from a dog whose vaccination status is unknown, and ask whether you need a tetanus shot or rabies protection. Bites to the hands are especially prone to infection, and your doctor may recommend antibiotics even if the wound looks small.

Your yearly home safety plan

Injury prevention is easier when it becomes a routine rather than a one-time project. Tying safety checks to dates you already remember, such as the start of daylight saving time, a birthday or the first warm weekend of the year, makes it far more likely they will happen. You can also raise safety at routine medical visits: pediatricians cover safety at well-child checkups, and older adults can ask about fall risk at a yearly checkup or the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit.

When you talk to your doctor, be specific. Mention any fall, even one without injury, since it can signal a treatable problem with balance, blood pressure, vision or medicines. Bring a list of every medicine and supplement you take. Ask about a referral to a physical therapist for strength and balance training, or to an occupational therapist for a home safety assessment. Parents can ask about car seat transitions, water safety and safe storage of medicines and firearms, and teens can be asked privately about driving, mood and substance use.

• Every month: test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
• Every season: walk through the home looking for new hazards as children grow or health changes, such as new climbing spots, cluttered stairs or medicines left out.
• Twice a year: run a home fire drill, including once at night, and check that fire escape routes are clear.
• Each spring: check pool fences and gates, life jackets, bike helmets, and the fit of car seats and booster seats.
• Each fall: have fuel-burning appliances and the furnace checked before heating season.
• Every year: review all medicines with a doctor or pharmacist, have an eye exam if you are an older adult, check car seat expiration dates, and safely dispose of unused medicines.

Every guide in this topic

• Car Seats and Seat Belts: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
• The Evidence on Drowning Prevention, Without the Hype
• Fall-Proofing Your Home: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
• The Evidence on Safe Firearm Storage, Without the Hype
• Bike and Helmet Safety: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
• What the Guidance Really Says About Poisoning Prevention at Home
• Smoke Alarms and Fire Safety: What the Evidence Actually Says
• Sports Concussion: What the Evidence Actually Says
• Dog Bite Prevention: What Published Guidance Supports
• Safe Sleep for Infants: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise

Frequently asked questions

What is the single most important safety step for a home with a toddler?

There is no single step, because toddlers face several serious risks at once. If you have a pool or hot tub, a four-sided fence with a self-latching gate comes first. Otherwise, start with locking up medicines and chemicals, anchoring furniture and TVs, installing stair gates and window stops, and keeping button batteries out of reach. Then add close supervision, which every other layer depends on.

When can my child move from a car seat to a booster, and from a booster to a seat belt?

Move up only when your child reaches the top weight or height limit of their current seat, not at a set age. Children usually need a booster until the adult belt fits properly, at about 4 feet 9 inches (145 cm) tall, often between ages 8 and 12. The lap belt should sit on the upper thighs and the shoulder belt across the chest, and all children under 13 belong in the back seat.

Are swim lessons enough to protect my child from drowning?

No. Swim lessons can lower drowning risk for children, but even good swimmers can drown, especially in open water, cold water or after a fall in. Keep close, undistracted supervision, use fences around home pools, put US Coast Guard-approved life jackets on children in boats and open water, and learn CPR. If a child is missing, check the water first.

My mother fell but was not hurt. Should she still tell her doctor?

Yes. A fall, even one without injury, can be the first sign of a treatable problem such as weak muscles, poor balance, low blood pressure on standing, a vision change or a medicine side effect. Having one fall also raises the chance of another. Her doctor can check these causes, review her medicines and suggest strength and balance exercises or a home safety assessment.

How many smoke alarms does a home need?

Install smoke alarms on every level of the home, including the basement, inside each bedroom and outside each sleeping area. Test them every month and replace any alarm that is 10 years old. Interconnected alarms, which all sound when one detects smoke, are especially helpful in larger homes because a fire in one area alerts people sleeping in another.

What should I do if my child swallows something that might be poisonous?

Stay calm and call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away, even if your child seems fine. Have the container with you so you can read the label. Do not make your child vomit. Call 911 if they are unconscious, having a seizure or struggling to breathe, and go straight to the emergency room if a button battery or magnet may have been swallowed.

Is it enough to hide a gun where my children will not look?

No. Children often know where guns are kept, even when parents believe they do not, and curiosity can overcome rules. Pediatricians advise storing firearms unloaded and locked, with ammunition locked separately and keys or codes kept out of reach. If anyone at home is in crisis, consider storing guns outside the home for a while, and call or text 988 for support.

How do I know if my child has a concussion after a hit in sports?

Watch for a child who seems dazed, confused, clumsy, slow to answer or not themselves, or who reports headache, nausea, dizziness, blurry vision, light or noise sensitivity or feeling foggy. Symptoms can appear hours later. Remove them from play right away with no return that day, and have them checked by a health care provider. Return to sports should be gradual and approved by a provider.

Is it safe for my baby to sleep in a swing, car seat or in bed with me?

Swings, car seats, strollers and inclined products are not safe places for routine sleep, so move a sleeping baby to a firm, flat crib, bassinet or play yard when you can. Room-sharing without bed-sharing is recommended, ideally for at least the first 6 months. Falling asleep with a baby on a couch or armchair is especially dangerous.

What should I do right after a dog bite?

Wash the wound gently with soap and warm water and apply a clean bandage. Find out, if you can, whether the dog is vaccinated against rabies. See a doctor for deep bites, bleeding that will not stop, bites to the face or hands, signs of infection such as redness, warmth or swelling, or an unknown dog, and ask about tetanus and rabies. Call 911 for severe bleeding.

When to speak to a doctor

Tell your doctor about any fall, any suspected concussion and any dog bite that is deep, infected or from a dog of unknown vaccination status, and have a child checked after a car crash even if they seem fine. Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for any suspected poisoning. Call 911 for anyone who is not breathing normally, unconscious or having a seizure, for severe bleeding, after a fire or carbon monoxide alarm with symptoms, for a head injury with worsening headache, repeated vomiting, confusion, unequal pupils or weakness, and if someone cannot get up after a fall or hit their head while taking a blood thinner. If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text 988.

Where this comes from

• CDC — Older Adult Fall Prevention
• NHTSA — Car Seats and Booster Seats
• CDC — Drowning Prevention
• Consumer Product Safety Commission — Pool Safely
• American Academy of Pediatrics — How to Keep Your Sleeping Baby Safe: AAP Policy Explained
• American Red Cross — Home Fire Safety
• Poison Control — Poison Prevention Tips
• American Academy of Pediatrics — Safe Storage of Firearms
• CDC — HEADS UP to Youth Sports
• CDC — Preventing Dog Bites

How this page was put together

Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarized or generalized beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.

Medical disclaimer

This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to your doctor, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 911.