Researchers examined the medical charts of 341 children treated for dog bites in emergency rooms between 1994 and 2003. They noted the age of the injured child, the type and severity of the injury and whether the child needed to be hospitalized, the long-term health consequences of the injury.
Children under age 1 had the highest risk of being bitten, and nearly 75 percent of the injured children were younger than 10. Half of the time, the children were bitten on the face, head or neck; the arms, hands, legs and feet were also common sites of dog bites.
To reduce the risk that your child will be bitten by a dog, always supervise your baby or young child around dogs. You can also teach your child these safety guidelines:

• Always ask the dog’s owner if it’s OK to pet the dog, and before petting a dog, let it sniff you.

• Do not try to run past or outrun a dog.

• Do not try to separate fighting dogs.

• If a dog approaches you, remain calm and avoid direct eye contact.