LARGE ANIMAL ATTACKS - Medicine for Mountaineering and Other Wilderness Activities - page 482

primate behavior suggested that the aggression might have been related to the presence of
sexually receptive females.
Interestingly, gorillas, are herbivores and—in spite of the way they are portrayed in fic-
tion and movies—are placid animals and almost never attack humans.
Bites by smaller primates can be avoided by behaving in a threatening manner: waving
sticks or clubs, pretending to throw or actually throwing stones, or even exploding fire-
crackers.Largeprimateswouldnotbedeterredbysuchactionsandcanbeescapedonlyby
seeking shelter. A motor vehicle may not suffice because chimpanzees can break through
the windows.
Monkey bites commonly produce significant injuries. Loss of one or more fingers is
not uncommon. Furthermore, the bite wounds typically become severely infected. All
such wounds must be thoroughly irrigated, then rinsed with a bactericidal agent such as
Betadine®. The wounds should not be sutured. Prophylactic antibiotics, tetanus immuniz-
ation, and postexposure rabies therapy all must be carefully considered.
Kangaroos
Kangaroosareshyandretiringandpresentlittlethreattohumans.Malekangaroosoften
“box” for dominance or in competition for mates. Their forepaws are used for punching
and grappling. A real danger exists with a kick by a hindleg because sharp toenails could
disembowel an opponent.
Kangaroos rarely attack humans without provocation, although more pummelings have
occurred in recent years as an expanding human population has encroached on kangaroo
territory.TheonlyreliablydocumentedfatalkangarooattackoccurredinNewSouthWales
in 1936 when a hunter was killed trying to rescue his two dogs.
CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS ATTACKED BY ANIMALS
The wounds inflicted by attacking animals are not significantly different from the soft-tis-
sue injuries and fractures produced by other traumatic incidents, except for the greater risk
of infection.
Prehospital care for individuals who have been attacked is complicated: Is the scene
safe? Is the attacking animal likely to return? Since each situation is different, no specific
rules can be made, but these details must not be overlooked or ignored.
Otherwise, care for individuals who have been attacked by animals is little different
from care for those injured in other accidents. Rescuers first on the scene should check
the ABCs: airway, breathing, circulation. The severity of the individual's disability must
be ascertained, and at some point all clothing should be removed to ensure no wounds go
undetected and untreated.
Individuals with severe wounds should be evacuated as fast as possible.