If bitten by a bat, what is the most important action to take?

The most important action to take if bitten by a bat is to capture it without harming it and then refrigerate it before taking it to the health department for testing. This is critical because bats are known carriers of rabies, a potentially fatal viral infection that can be transmitted through bites. By capturing the bat, health professionals can test it for rabies, which is essential for determining the proper medical response. If the bat tests positive for rabies, immediate post-exposure prophylaxis can be administered to prevent the virus from taking hold in the human body.

While washing the wound is indeed important as a first aid step to help reduce the risk of infection, it does not provide information about rabies status and thus might not be sufficient on its own. Calling animal control is certainly a good practice but may delay the crucial step of identifying rabies risk. Ignoring a minor bite is not advisable, as even minor bites from potential rabies carriers can pose serious health risks. Overall, the proper handling and testing of the animal is vital to ensuring human safety in this situation.