|
|
MILWAUKEE (11/13/2008) - With 23 cases of shaken babies being treated at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin since Jan. 1 of this year, Children's Hospital urges parents to seek help with their children in times of stress. Many resources are available in communities throughout Wisconsin to help parents avoid or diffuse the intense frustration that often leads to shaking and other abuse.
"Shaking or slamming an infant's head is one of the most horrible, brutal ways to abuse a child," said Lynn Sheets, MD, medical director of Children's Hospital of Wisconsin's Child Protection Center. Shaking an infant can cause permanent, severe brain damage and death. During shaking or slamming, the infant brain is torn, resulting in devastating brain injury and bleeding around the brain. Those who survive often live with residual problems including blindness, deafness, seizures and learning disabilities.
"Parents and caregivers need to call for help before they get to a level of frustration where they hurt a child," said Jennifer Hammel, director of Children's Hospital and Health System's Child Abuse Prevention Fund. "They need to put the child gently in a safe place, close the door and pick up the phone. Call a friend, a relative, a neighbor, a family resource center or a parent help line. The help is there."
Parent resource hotlines are available in many areas of the state. Residents of Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine and Dane counties can dial 211 to be connected to resources in their area. The 211 services are staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
In addition, a searchable directory of community-based resources for families is available at www.capfund.org. Click on the Parent Resources button on the left to locate Internet resources. These resources include child abuse prevention programs such as drop-in care centers, parent hotlines, parent education and home visitation programs. Other resources address basic needs of families such as food, clothing and shelter, because the presence of stressors related to economic need often place families at a high risk for child abuse and neglect.
|
