Texas EMS Magazine, Volume 17, Number 3, May/June 1996 Page: 26
66 p. : col. ill.View a full description of this periodical.
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,r a~i
Even six days after the attack,
a hole remains in the boy's average cost :or the injections for an
back where the tissue has to adult costs between $1,000 and
regenerate. Nine months after $1,500. Unfortunately, many rural
the attack, some scars remain. areas of Texas and even some towns
do not have animal control depart-
ments, and t-e community is left to
its own resources for apprehendingthe animal.
Notify the
Stories from other survivors
As a result of an attack on her
son, Dynette Espinosa has begun
a organization called Survivors
of Dangerous Animals (SODA).
Espinosa is asking for stories
from other survivors, or others
interested in the subject to
contact SODA between 9 a.m.
and 9 p.m. CST at (713) 492-
8550, or write 20406 Blue Beech,
Katy, Texas 77449, or email at
soda@neosoft.comlocal rabies control
authority. Although
not every town or
county has an animal
control department,
state law requires that
a local rabies control
authority be appointed
for every location in
Texas. The local
rabies control author-
ity may or may not be
the same individual
who is responsible for
animal control. The
local rabies control
authority must benotified of the bite incident so that
he or she can make appropriate
recommendations for rabies pre-
vention vaccinations. That deci-
sion is based on a variety of fac-
tors, including whether the animal
is available for rabies quarantine or
testing, the anatomic location of
the bite and whether the bite was
provoked, to name a few. You can
get the names and telephone
numbers of local rabies control
authorities by calling TDH's
Zoonosis Control at (512) 458-7255.
EMS in the Community
As an involved community
member, the EMS provider can
take a proactive injury prevention
role in reducing animal bites.
First, educate yourself on the laws
in your community regarding leash
restraints, the legality of exotic
animals within your area, proce-
dures for declaring individual dogs
"dangerous" and investigation
protocol for bite cases with regard
to rabies assessment. If you feel
the laws are inadequate, appeal to
your elected city or county officials
to strengthen animal control laws.
Your first-hand testimony, sup-
ported by proper documentation,
can have a major impact on your
officials' attitudes and viewpoints.
Second, use your position in
the community to get the word
out. Bite prevention information
can be distributed through the
newspaper or local television and
radio stations. Likewise, presenta-
tions to local Rotary, Kiwanis, or
other civic groups will yield ben-
eficial results. The advice listed on
page 25 is particularly useful for
talks to PTAs, Scouts, grade school
classes and other parent or youth
organizations. -DTexas EMS Magazine May/June 1996
26
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Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas. Department of State Health Services. Texas EMS Magazine, Volume 17, Number 3, May/June 1996, periodical, May 1996; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1507922/m1/26/: accessed June 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.