Would you know if a child was being abused in your world?
Let’s say you had a bad feeling about the well-being of a child that would not go away, would you know what to say or do? Knowing that child abuse affects millions of American children every year, we want to take this time during “National Child Abuse Prevention Month” to encourage all of the adults in our network to watch out for signs of child abuse.
Child abuse can take many forms: from physical abuse to sexual abuse, emotional abuse to severe neglect. While there are some gray areas when determining whether a child is being harmed, children are rarely victimized by strangers. Nearly 90% of victims know their abuser — whether it’s a relative, coach, neighbor or teacher. Knowing that an abused child may be reluctant to tell anyone about it — it’s important to watch out for these warning signs:
Remember, warning signs don’t necessarily mean that a child is being abused but watch out for obvious signs of physical abuse such as bruises or injuries that don’t match up with the explanation given. In addition, look for signs of neglect, such as poor growth, bad hygiene, lack of clothing or if they’re not receiving the appropriate medical care.
When it comes to protecting the children around you from abuse, we suggest you follow these 7 steps to safeguard them from any predators.
If you’re concerned that your child, or another minor has been abused contact the child’s doctor, a local child protective agency, police department or this 24-hour National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-422-4453). If the child needs immediate medical attention, call 911 immediately. Many people will hesitate in calling CPS because they don’t want to get involved, but if you are someone the child trusts and they reveal they are being abused it is your obligation to report it.
So, if you are suspicious, say something, because child abuse is preventable and treatable, if we all stay diligent and do our part to protect our children.
Regardless of the date published, no content on this website should ever be used as a replacement for direct medical advice from your primary care provider or another qualified clinician.