THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT DOG BITE

What you should do after a dog bite

Having a pet at home is not actually a problem. However, being bitten by either a cat or dog is somewhat traumatizing. Well, if you experience this unfortunate circumstance, the first thing you should do, might it be a simple scratch or small wound, is to wash it using clean water and soap for 10 minutes. After that, clean it with the antiseptic or alcohol. Also, you may use cotton with Povidone Iodine (Betadine) or sterile gauze to stop the bleeding. Then visit the nearest clinic or hospital, or animal bite center to report this incident. Only medical professional knows how to treat and prescribe medicine to people who experience animal bites. Thus, putting other things may aggravate the injury. 

Unfortunately, most privately-owned hospitals both Out-Patient Department (OPD) and emergency room (ER) are very costly. Imagine, anti-rabies and anti-tetanus vaccines range from a total of ten to twelve thousand pesos, not including the booster that must be taken 2 times after the initial injection. Each booster may cost from 2,000 to 2,500 pesos. Isn’t it more upsetting to see your hospital bill from an incident that you didn’t make.

Actually, I didn’t seek any medical attention from a private hospital or clinic after I had my first dog bite. And before I went to any medical institution, I asked advice from my friends who had the same experience as mine. And for those who have high anxiety like me because of that pricey vaccine, don’t lose hope. There is a way to avail this treatment without spending much. I was so glad to know that there is an institute that offers anti-rabies vaccine absolutely free and that is Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), located in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

Experts say that you must receive your anti-rabies vaccine from the first day until the 12^th to 14^th day after the bite to avoid the lethal effects of spreading the virus in your body. Remember to observe the dog if there is unusual behaviour after the incident. And if you think there is, you have to report this to the doctor immediately for further observation.

Myths of Animal Bite’s Remedy

Here are the common mistakes that most people do after the animal bite.

1. Seeking medical help from herbalist or herb doctor (albularyo in Tagalog).

2. Using garlic and ‘batong buhay’ or the healing stone as first aid.

3. Wrapping the injury will alleviate the wound.

Avoiding these beliefs will prevent you from danger or further damage to your injury. Before visiting RITM, please read the following reminders and know the step-by-step procedure on how to avail its service.

The process takes almost four hours for the first injection. While the follow-up visit is only a couple of hours. You just need to bear the waiting if you want to avail this free vaccine. 
Today is August 24 and it has been two weeks now, but the injection sites are still swollen. At times, I can feel the pain every time I move my shoulders. Expect that each vaccine is usually injected on both of your arms.
   

New Patient

Patients who will receive the service for the first time.

1. Be at the area as early as 5 am. Only 100 patients are allocated for free anti-rabies vaccine. People come from various nearby cities and provinces, and you’ll be surprised how early they travel just to have a slot. In fact, I arrived in RITM at exactly 5am and I was number 15.

2. There will be no number given from 5am so try to remember the person ahead or behind you. On the other hand, around 6 am, the staff or the guard will provide the pink form to fill in and the patient number.  

Note: If you already have the orange form, you don’t need the pink form, just the patient number.

3. Wait until around 7am. The staff will call you according to number to queue to Information Counter to submit your personal data form.

Note: Patient ages below 19 years must be accompanied by an adult.

4. Then proceed to the other side of the Information Counter. Be seated and wait to be called for a brief interview. The encoder will check if you are the patient or not or if you already have the records with them. You have to check if your personal information shown on the screen is true and correct.

Note: Some patients are on queue. On the other hand, don’t let them see your personal information while the staff is encoding your data. (Data privacy)

5. Wait to receive a consent form for rabies immunization. This must be filled in by the patient.

Note: For minors, this form has to be signed by the adult companion. You may have your breakfast until the consultation starts. It usually starts at 8am and you have to be seated nearby the consultation room.

6. Proceed to the consultation room for vital signs and prescription.

7. After that, you may now go to the billing area and provide the prescription to the clerk. He/she will provide the billing statement or itemized report needed at the cashier.

8. After accepting the billing statement, you may now proceed to the cashier to pay for applicable fees. Please secure the official receipt. You will present it to the nurse for injection.

Note: If you are a new patient, you need to pay for the registration fee.

9. Finally, proceed to the Animal Bite Clinic and wait to be called for your vaccine.

Note: If you don’t have any anti-tetanus vaccine, the medical staff may include this in your vaccination. This has an applicable fee.

Old Patient

Patients who already have records or orange form given by the institute and was bitten again.

Please read the following steps for follow up patients.

1. Be at the Animal Bite Follow Up Area as early as 5 am. Once again, only 100 patients are allocated to avail free anti-rabies vaccine for both new and old patients.

2. There will be no number given from 5am so try to remember the person ahead or behind you. On the other hand, around 6 am, the staff or the guard will call the patients to proceed to triage. Present all the necessary forms.

Note: Pls. prepare your orange form, vaccination card, follow up schedule.

3. Wait until around 7am. The staff will call you according to number to queue to Information Counter to submit your pink form.

Note: Patient ages below 19 years must be accompanied by an adult.

4. After that, you may now go to the billing area and provide the prescription to the clerk. He/she will provide the billing statement or itemized report needed at the cashier.

5. After accepting the billing statement, you may now proceed to the cashier to pay for applicable fees. Please secure the official receipt. You will present it to the nurse for injection.

6. Finally, proceed to the Animal Bite Clinic and wait to be called for your vaccine.

7. Right after paying at the cashier, directly go to Animal Bite Clinic Follow Up Area. Give the official receipt to the staff and receive the patient number.

Note: You may have your breakfast before the vaccination starts.

8. At exactly 8am, the vaccination starts. Wait to be called.

9. After the vaccination, you have to give one form to the guard for clearance.

Follow-up vaccination is usually done twice, but of course you have to double-check this with your attending physician.

How to go to the Institute 

You can take a multicab in front of Festival Mall, a few steps from 711 and Alabang Fire Station. Before getting on the vehicle, you have to ask the driver if he will drop you off at RITM, The fare is only Php 10.

RITM Contact Number

Telephone No: 807-2631