CLICK HERE to see Dr. Brian Cron's interview about dog bite prevention tips on Channel 19 News, aired September 22, 2010.

Every year 4.5 million people in the United States are bitten by dogs and nearly 900,000 of those bites require medical attention.  Sadly the majority of the bite victims are children.  The good news is that dog bite injuries are usually preventable by following a few simple guidelines such as:

• Do not approach an unfamiliar dog.

• Do not run from a dog or scream.

• Remain motionless (e.g., "be still like a tree") when approached by an unfamiliar dog.

• If knocked over by a dog, roll into a ball and lie still (e.g., "be still like a log").

• Avoid direct eye contact with a dog.

• Do not disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies.

• Do not pet a dog without allowing it to see and sniff you first.