Every month hundreds of people turn up in A&E with animal bites, but doctors are asking people to ‘keep A&E free’ for emergencies only after average waiting times soared again this month.

While 99.9% of the bites are from pet dogs and cats, people have also turned up with insect, tick, mouse and donkey bites.

However, people are being urged not to attend A&E unless it is a life-threatening issue.

Emergency departments at Lanarkshire’s three main hospitals are not the place to get treatment for pet bites – unless the bite is extremely serious.

Waiting times in emergency departments for anything that’s isn’t life-threatening, are very long; at least 6 hours is now the norm.

Patients should now instead call NHS24 on 111 for a telephone assessment and referral to the most appropriate service suited to their needs.

In fact, most insect and animal bites and scratches can be easily treated at home, with some basic ‘first-aid’ essentials.

People can also get help and advice at their local pharmacy, GP surgery or Minor Injuries Unit (there are five walk-in minor injuries units in Lanarkshire). Pharmacists can provide all the necessary dressings and painkillers free of charge, if they’re needed.

Animal bites from dogs especially are very common: unfortunately animals can be unpredictable; they are more likely to bite if they’re been annoyed, disturbed, feel threatened or get overexcited.

Prevent animal bites

• Never leave a young child or baby alone with a dog, regardless of what type of dog it is and its previous behaviour
• Treat animals with respect – do not rush at them, make loud noises near them or interrupt them when they’re eating
• Avoid stroking or petting unfamiliar dogs – when greeting a dog for the first time, let it sniff the back of your hand before petting it

What to do if you get bitten

• Clean the wound immediately by running it under warm tap water for a couple of minutes. Then dry the wound and cover it with a clean dressing or plaster
• Remove anything that’s stuck in the bite, such as teeth, hair or dirt
• Encourage the wound to bleed slightly by gently squeezing it, unless it’s already bleeding freely
• If the wound is bleeding heavily, put a clean pad or sterile dressing over it and apply pressure
• Take painkillers if it hurts, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen
• Watch out for signs  of infection (swelling, redness, pus, fever, sweats/chills) and seek medical advice

Speaking about animal bites, Calvin Lightbody, consultant in emergency medicine,  said that most bites can be treated at home by cleaning the wound carefully and then keeping it covered – and clean. He/she said,

“Bites can get infected if they’re not checked and treated, so always seek medical advice if the bite has broken the skin. These infections are rarely serious if treated quickly, but occasionally they can spread to the blood or other parts of the body.

“If it has been more than 10 years since your last tetanus immunization, you may require a booster.”

There is useful self-help and first aid advice on NHS Inform www.nhsinform.scot and advice at www.nhs.uk

NHS 24 can deal with any urgent questions or concerns: call 111.