Police report that alcohol and drugs was not a factor in the accident. The Oakland County Prosecutors Office will review the matter to determine if charges will be pressed against the 60 year-old driver of the vehicle that hit Elisa and the group she was with. 

Accidents result when one or more drivers are not paying attention. Driving is an important responsibility, as the driver is controlling a machine that weighs thousands of pounds. In the wrong hands, an automobile becomes a deadly weapon. Accidents are more like to occur close to home because drivers are familiar with their environments and feel comfortable enough to allow distractions while driving, such as talking on the phone, adjusting the radio, looking in the mirror, day dreaming or looking through a purse rather than paying attention to the traffic around them. Don?t let your mind get distracted.    

On Friday, the family was together at the pond, enjoying the outdoors. Raymond and his foster brothers had been at the pond swimming for about an hour and one half when the accident took place. Dale Owens said Raymond was at his side and the accident happened so fast, ?within seconds?. 

The Owen family has provided foster care for a decade, providing a home for over 50 foster children. They have three adopted children presently. 

Back-over injuries refer to injuries sustained by a child when a vehicle strikes or runs over a child while in reverse motion. Run-over injuries occur when a child is struck by a vehicle in forward motion. A majority of child victims are male. The younger the child, the more likely the child is to sustain injury to the head, face and neck. The older the child, the more likely the child is to sustain injury to the legs. The degree of severity level in internal injury and fracture statistically decreases with the increased age of the victim. Children that are pedestrians are at six time?s greater risk of being a victim in back-over accidents than children riding tricycles or bicycles. The majority of back-over accidents generally occur at home in a driveway. The locations with second highest risk for back-over accidents are parking lots. The CDC reports that fifty percent of child fatalities related to back-over accidents occurred at home in the driveway. Toddlers may be hit and killed in their own home environments because they are too small to be seen by a driver that is backing up a vehicle. These types of accidents generally involve a family member, family friend or neighbor.  

In toddlers, injuries have emerged as the most common cause of death in toddlers. Death that is injury-related is approximately 37% of all causes of death in this age group. Toddlers develop their gross motor skills to include walking, running, climbing, throwing and riding. They participate in more outdoor activities and have much curiosity. At the same time, toddlers are developing increased fine motor skills. As a result, toddlers can open doors, gates, drawers, bottles and boxes. They become easily distracted and lack judgment. They do not fear heights, depth of water, heat from flames, volatile materials, electricity and animals. Because of the newly developed ability to wonder and perform fine and gross motor skills, toddlers are at risk for injury and death when left unsupervised.  

The major cause of injury is related to environmental factors, such as hazardous structures, drowning and pools of water, burns and overly heated water, cooking and open flames, motor vehicles and inappropriate use of restraints, and inappropriate storage of household poisons.  

Toddlers are at the highest risk of drowning compared to other age groups. They do not have the developmental ability to swim, nor can they keep their heads above water, or know how to get out of water. Young children can drown in very shallow water, including pails of liquid, toilets, bathtubs and baby pools. Unlike adults, young children do not call out for help while in distress, they generally drown silently.  

Drowning is the second leading cause of deaths related to injuries after motor vehicle accidents. According to the CDC, children between the ages of one and four years of age are more likely to drown in swimming pools and hot tubs. Mortality rates secondary to drowning are three times higher for males. Approximately 78% of drowning victims are male. Near-drowning accidents can result in permanent brain damage. For every child that drowns there are approximately five near-drowning episodes in children. Drowning is the second highest cause of injury-related deaths in children between the ages of one and nine years old.   

Almost 30% of child victims of sex abuse do not tell anyone what happened to them. And there are not always symptoms of sex abuse. Symptoms may be as vague as stomach aches and headaches. Nearly one out of four females and one out of six males are sexually abused before adulthood. Median age for sex abuse is 9 years old. Only ten percent of sex abuse victims are abused by strangers. Most victims are acquainted with their offender. Currently, there are approximately 39 million child sex abuse victims in this country.    

Darkness to light: confronting child sexual abuse with courage: http://www.darkness2light.org/KnowAbout/statistics_2.asp

While women are more likely and are more frequently the abusers, men abuse more severely and are more likely to be sexual abusers. Parents with unrealistic expectations and poor coping skills are most at risk for engaging in abusive behavior. CPS is responsible for conducting background checks on all adults providing care for children that are removed from the care of custodial parents. Adults that are in frequent contact with children in state custody should have criminal background checks. A failure to check on the welfare of children in foster care arrangements with family or foster parents is a deviation from CPS practice standards. Moral neglect exists when parents or caregivers allow a child to remain in environments with immoral conditions.

Nearly 75 percent of all scalding burns in children are preventable. Bathtub scalds are often associated with lack of supervision or child abuse. Though a burn injury may be thought to be non-intentional, burn injuries are often preventable. Death related to fire and burns is the third leading cause of injury-related deaths in children between the ages of one and nine years of age. Approximately 3,000 children die a year from burn injuries.  

In the infant and toddler age groups, scalding burns from hot liquid is the most common type of burn. A young child?s skin burns at a lower temperature and a greater depth than that of an older child or an adult?s skin. If a child is scalded by submersion in a hot tub, the injury is life threatening due to the large surface area of injury. Also, younger victims are less likely to survive due to the inability of their young bodies to endure the significant physical stress of injury and healing. The higher burn injury rate in young children can be attributed to the higher likelihood of sustaining injury from non-accidental burns in an abusive domestic setting. 

There are many different types of burn injuries including scalding burns, flash-burns, direct-flame burns, grease burns, flammable liquids, combustible gas, electrical and chemical burns. And there are different degrees of burns, such as first, second and third degree burns. First degree burns involve redness and sensitivity at the sight the burn was sustained immediately after contact with a burn agent. Second degree burns generally involve redness, blisters and pain. Second degree burns may cause scarring and infection to occur. Third degree burns are evident when the burn injury is deeper than the skin, muscle and bone may be involved. Third degree burns will leave scars. The skin of a toddler is thin and prone to injuries such as burns from hot liquids or flames.      

Plano police are currently investigating the matter to determine whether charges will be filed against David Calhoun Jones of Louisiana. New stories report that Mr. Jones was driving at a high speed while running a red light at the Legacy Drive and Custer Road intersection. Allegedly his rental vehicle struck a fire hydrant before hitting the Hart?s minivan.  

According to the CDC, injury deaths related to motor vehicles are the leading cause of death in children between the ages of one and nine years old. Alcohol is a factor in approximately 23% of the cases. According to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA), the leading cause of death for children between the ages of 2 ? 14 years of age is motor vehicle accidents (http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/810803.PDF). Children make up approximately 5% of the accident fatalities. Approximately 6 children are killed and 700 children are injured every day in car crashes.  

Accidents are more likely to occur close to home because drivers are familiar with their environments and feel comfortable enough to allow distractions while driving, such as talking on the phone, adjusting the radio, looking in the mirror or looking through a purse rather than paying attention to traffic. Don?t let your mind get distracted. While driving, anticipate how other drivers may make mistakes and give your self the room to avoid a collision when they do make those errors. You never know what frame of mind the other driver is in while you are sharing the road. Be very cautious at intersections. Eighty percent of injurious or fatal accidents on the road occur at intersections. And the risk of an accident is greatest within four seconds of a light change. If you are at a stop light, confirm that drivers appear to be braking for their red light before you accelerate into the intersection.

News stories report that Patrick Kelly, Jamie Pittman, Shauntel Mayo, among other adults, allegedly fed the children Vicodin and forced them to perform sex shows for an adult audience in a local swingers club. Residents in Mineola and adjacent communities are horrified of what has happened to these children in their community. One of the neighbors says she remembers many cars in the parking lot at the swinger?s club. At first, the community did not know children were being victimized inside the club. The investigation revealed that as many as 50 to 100 adults would watch the children perform their sex shows.   

The child sex abuse took place in a former day care center. The first allegations surfaced in 2005 when one of the children revealed the activity to their foster mother. While Jamie Pittman and Shauntel Mayo have been sentenced to life in prison for their role in this heinous crime, Patrick Kelly faces trial. He is charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child, tampering with physical evidence and organized criminal activity.  

Since these crimes took place, some of the children have been placed in permanent foster care and are undergoing counseling.  

Injury to the genital region is indicative of sexual abuse. Moral neglect exists when parents or caregivers allow a child to remain in environments with immoral conditions. The defendants, as well as the spectators in this case are guilty of moral neglect in addition to other criminal activity. The long term affects of child sex abuse include developmental arrest in developing basic trust and self worth into adulthood. Neglect of a child is an act of omission or failure to meet the child?s needs, such as poor nutrition, severe malnutrition, failure to thrive, lack of medical attention and failure to provide a safe environment or remove the child from an unsafe environment.

Richard?s family lives in Crystal Lawns subdivision outside of Joliet. He was taken emergently to Povena St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet when he became unresponsive under the care of a baby sitter. New stories say that Richard was at the home of the baby sitter when his condition deteriorated. According to details released to the media, the baby sitter called 911.   

Monitor strangers around your child. Look for signs that the caregiver delayed in seeking help for an injury or potential injury. Have a high-index of suspicion for an individual providing an inconsistent history about the mechanism of injury. Suspect intentional injury when the injury is inconsistent with the child?s developmental capabilities.  Well adjusted care giving styles are learned behaviors. Good child care is not instinctual. Abusive adults are generally grown abused children with poor coping skills. That is not to say that all abusers were abused and all abused children will be abusers. Some people that were abused as children do not abuse children. And some children that were not abused as children grow up to be abusive parents. However, the likelihood of being an abuser increases significantly if an individual was abused as a child. While women are more likely and more frequently to be the abusers, men abuse more severely. Children under the age of three years old are the most likely victims of abuse, because the toddler stage is a very trying time for child care providers. Child care providers with unrealistic expectations and poor coping skills are most at risk for engaging in abusive behavior. Physical abuse is the most overt form of abuse. Physical abuse can result in brain injury, fractured bones, soft tissue injuries, bruises, cuts and burns.  

Inside the van were Geoff, Christy and Rebecca Hart with their two foster children, all of which were mortally wounded. The names of the foster children have not been released to news agencies. The driver of the Pontiac is in critical condition.  

Members of the Custer Road United Methodist Church are devastated by this tragedy. EMS responders say it is one of the worst accidents they have responded to.   

Do not run red lights and be cautious through yellow lights. To prevent serious accidents, pay attention at intersections, you may assume that someone will run a red light at any time. Be very cautious at intersections. Eighty percent of injurious or fatal accidents on the road occur at intersections. And the risk of an accident is greatest within four seconds of a light change. If you are at a stop light, confirm that drivers appear to be braking for their red light before you accelerate into the intersection.  

Authorities have not released additional details regarding their investigation in to this tragic accident.  

Toddlers are at the highest risk of drowning of all age groups. They do not have the developmental ability to swim, nor can they keep their heads above water, or know how to get out of water.  

Young children can drown in very shallow water, including pails of liquid, toilets, bathtubs and baby pools. Drowning is the second leading cause of deaths related to injuries. Toddlers do not call out for help while in distress, they generally drown silently. According to the CDC, children between the ages of one and four years of age are more likely to drown in swimming pools and hot tubs. Mortality rates secondary to drowning are three times higher for males. Approximately 78% of drowning victims are male. For every child that drowns there are approximately five near-drowning episodes in children.    

On May 11, 2006, Hannah became unresponsive while the defendant was babysitting her. Hannah was taken emergently to the hospital. During the course of investigation the defendant offered four different versions of events that occurred just prior to Hannah losing consciousness.  

Prosecutors contend that the defense medical experts? theories were used to confuse the jury in the first trial. The defense medical experts postulate the possibility that Hannah?s injuries were sustained one to two days prior to her losing consciousness; casting doubt that the defendant was the actual perpetrator. The medical experts also stated that other causes may be responsible for Hannah?s death, as some illnesses simulate SBS.  

The prosecution states that the healthcare provider?s involved in Hannah?s care were unanimous in their diagnosis of Shaken Baby Syndrome and the cause of her death.    

Monitor strangers around your child. Look for signs that the caregiver or parent delayed in seeking help for an injury or potential injury. Have a high-index of suspicion for an individual providing an inconsistent history about the mechanism of injury. Suspect intentional injury when the injury is inconsistent with the child?s developmental capabilities. Suspect abuse when fractures are present at varying degrees of healing stages. Look for bruises to the back of the body. Be suspicious if there are bald spots or broken hair on the scalp. Caregivers with unrealistic expectations and poor coping skills are most at risk for engaging in abusive behavior.  

Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is an injurious condition caused by the shaking of an infant or child.  The action of rapidly shaking an infant or child causes the sudden forward, backward and sideway motion of the head. During the shaking action the brain is injured from hitting against the inside of the bony skull, causing inflammation, bleeding, separation of vessels and nerve fibers in the soft brain tissue on all sides of the brain. The brain of an infant or child is very soft because it has more water content and it is easier to injure than an adult brain. Therefore, less energy is required to cause lethal injury to an infant or child?s brain.  In SBS, the eyes may get injured by the sudden increase in pressure and motion around the soft tissues that make up the delicate structure of the eyes. After the shaking, the brain and the eyes bleed inside the confined spaces they are contained in.  This bleeding causes high pressure to build within the head and eyes. The damage caused by shaking the head, brain and eye structures and the increasing high pressure that follows causes permanent injury or death for the infant or child. If death does not occur the infant or child may be left with permanent brain damage, blindness, neuromuscular disability, paralysis, deafness, learning disabilities and/or a seizure disorder.

Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is an injurious condition caused by the shaking of an infant or child. The action of rapidly shaking an infant or child causes the sudden forward, backward and sideway motion of the head. During the shaking action the brain is injured from hitting against the inside of the bony skull, causing inflammation, bleeding, separation of vessels and nerve fibers in the soft brain tissue on all sides of the brain. The brain of an infant or child is very soft because it has more water content and it is easier to injure than an adult brain. Therefore, less energy is required to cause lethal injury to an infant or child?s brain.  In SBS, the eyes may get injured by the sudden increase in pressure and motion around the soft tissues that make up the delicate structure of the eyes. After the shaking, the brain and the eyes bleed inside the confined spaces they are contained in.  This bleeding causes high pressure to build within the head and eyes. The damage caused by shaking the head, brain and eye structures and the increasing high pressure that follows causes permanent injury or death for the infant or child. If death does not occur the infant or child may be left with permanent brain damage, blindness, neuromuscular disability, paralysis, deafness, learning disabilities and/or a seizure disorder.   

Several adults and children were at the home at the time of the incident. The boy was found drowned inside the in-ground pool by his mother?s boyfriend. The boyfriend removed the child from the pool.  

Adults at the home tried to transport the toddler in a private vehicle until they met up with EMS personnel as they were leaving the subdivision. Marcellas was taken to Henry Ford Hospital. He was pronounced dead after efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.  

An investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death is currently underway. An autopsy is expected to be completed by Monday by the Macomb County Medical Examiner.  

Because toddlers lack judgment about safety and environmental hazards, they are at high risk for injury and death. Drowning is the second highest cause of injury-related deaths in children between the ages of one and nine years old. Mortality rates secondary to drowning are three times higher for males. Approximately 78% of drowning victims are male.  

Toddlers are at a high risk of drowning because they do not have the developmental ability to swim, nor can they keep their heads above water, or know how to get out of water. Unlike adults, young children do not call out for help while in distress, they generally drown silently. Drowning may occur in very shallow water, including pails of liquid, toilets, bathtubs and baby pools. According to the CDC, children between the ages of one and four years of age are more likely to drown in swimming pools and hot tubs.  

Unlike adults, young children do not call out for help while in distress, they generally drown silently. Near-drowning accidents can result in permanent brain damage. For every child that drowns there are approximately five near-drowning episodes in children.  

To prevent death and injury from drowning, supervise toddlers at all times while they are playing in or near a pool. Stationary pools should have a locked fence around them. Never leave a toddler unsupervised in a bath tub. Supervision is very important, for this reason. Lapses in adult supervision, even while parents were home, are very common features of drowning accidents.

The deceased child remains unidentified at this time. Investigators will have to confirm identity with DNA testing, as the toddler was beaten beyond recognition. The information about the mother is not known as of the posting of this story.  

A Sheriff?s Department helicopter landed near the crime location in a cow pasture allowing a flight officer to approach the assailant on foot. When the assailant continued to beat the toddler despite a police order to stop, the office shot a killed the assailant at the scene. Rescuers tried to resuscitate the toddler, but he died en route to the hospital.   

Adults with unrealistic expectations and poor coping skills are most at risk for engaging in abusive or homicidal behavior. While women are more likely (and more frequently) to be the abusers, men abuse more severely. Children under the age of three years old are the most likely victims of abuse.

Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is an injurious condition caused by the shaking of an infant or child.  The action of rapidly shaking an infant or child causes the sudden forward, backward and sideway motion of the head. During the shaking action the brain is injured from hitting against the inside of the bony skull, causing inflammation, bleeding, separation of vessels and nerve fibers in the soft brain tissue on all sides of the brain. The brain of an infant or child is very soft because it has more water content and it is easier to injure than an adult brain. Therefore, less energy is required to cause lethal injury to an infant or child?s brain.  In SBS, the eyes may get injured by the sudden increase in pressure and motion around the soft tissues that make up the delicate structure of the eyes. After the shaking, the brain and the eyes bleed inside the confined spaces they are contained in.  This bleeding causes high pressure to build within the head and eyes. The damage caused by shaking the head, brain and eye structures and the increasing high pressure that follows causes permanent injury or death for the infant or child. If death does not occur the infant or child may be left with permanent brain damage, blindness, neuromuscular disability, paralysis, deafness, learning disabilities and/or a seizure disorder.  

Adults at risk for committing abusive acts include adults with poor coping skills, unrealistic expectations, substance abuse, former victims of abuse and adults with mental health problems. Environmental factors that usually culminate in abusive events include social isolation, dysfunctional family characteristics and socio-economic burdens. However, SBS may occur in any setting and it is important to know the signs and symptoms that may be present in an infant or child that may be a victim of SBS.

The common signs and symptoms of SBS include poor feeding, failure to thrive, vomiting, weakness, irritability, a change in overall muscle tone, decreased alertness, seizures, pale skin color, cool skin temperature, difficulty breathing and sudden respiratory or cardiac arrest. The fontanelles may be swollen depending on the age of the infant. It is important to remember that there may be no bruising, scrapes or outward physical signs of trauma. There may be only a change in behavior as described in the first sentence. It is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. 

Lapses in adult supervision, even while parents were home, are very common features of drowning accidents. Unlike adults, young children do not call out for help while in distress, they generally drown silently. The major causes of injury and death are related to environmental factors, such as hazardous structures and pools of water. Because of a toddlers? lack of judgment, they are at high risk for drowning accidents. For every child that drowns there are approximately five near-drowning episodes in children. Drowning is the second highest cause of injury-related deaths in children between the ages of one and nine years old.   

Toddlers develop their gross motor skills to include walking, running, climbing, throwing and riding. They are naturally curious and use their new skills to explore their environment. At this age, toddlers can open doors, gates, drawers, bottles and boxes. They become easily distracted and lack judgment. They do not fear heights, depth of water, heat from flames, volatile materials, electricity and animals. Because of the newly developed ability to wonder and perform fine and gross motor skills, toddlers are at risk.  

Males tend to get injured more, but the overall incidence of injury peaks in this age group. The major cause of injury is related to environmental factors, such as hazardous structures, drowning and pools of water among other things.  

Toddlers are at the highest risk of drowning across the lifespan of children. They do not have the developmental ability to swim, nor can they keep their heads above water, or know how to get out of water. Young children can drown in very shallow water, including pails of liquid, toilets, bathtubs and baby pools. Drowning is the second leading cause of deaths related to injuries after motor vehicle accidents. According to the CDC, children between the ages of one and four years of age are more likely to drown in swimming pools and hot tubs. Mortality rates secondary to drowning are three times higher for males. Approximately 78% of drowning victims are male. Unlike adults, young children do not call out for help while in distress, they generally drown silently. Near-drowning accidents can result in permanent brain damage. For every child that drowns there are approximately five near-drowning episodes in children. Drowning is the second highest cause of injury-related deaths in children between the ages of one and nine years old.   

According to news stories, Ms. Cheatham had a history of abuse towards children in another state. Social workers from the Administration for Children?s Services and the New York City Police Department state they had been out to the apartment where Kyle lived. But according to a statement by Sheila Stainback, no one reported the abuse Kyle was enduring. It is unclear why the Administration for Children?s Services did not know about Cheatham?s past history with another child protection agency if there was an investigation into Cheatham?s background during legal custody proceedings.  

This child?s torture and ordeal was not only the result of mental, physical, and medical neglect and sexual abuse, as heinous as these features are in the short life of this young boy. Moral neglect is the fiber that intertwines all the crimes committed by Cheatham and Martin against Kyle Smith. The moral neglect of the neighbors unnamed and named, like Hason Parker. Parker admits to witnessing some abuse by Cheatham against Kyle Smith. Parker admits to seeing the maltreatment inflicted on this little boy and then admits to not reporting it. Does this make Parker guilty at least, in part, of his role in Kyle?s death? But Parker is not alone because other neighbors didn?t report the abuse of Kyle, as well. And what did Kyle?s father, Darien Smith, know about Kyle?s condition?   

The crimes committed, by Cheatham and Martin, against Kyle and society in this case are glaring. But what about the moral crime committed by the witnesses, the neighbors in this case, are they not guilty of a crime? The moral crime of withholding information from authorities after witnessing child endangerment; this child was in immediate risk of serious harm and at risk for death at the hands of his abusers. Hason Parker, and other neighbors, admitted seeing clear evidence that Kyle was being abused, yet allegedly and by their own admission to news reporters, did not notify police or ACS of the crimes committed against Kyle Smith. Moral neglect by the neighbors also contributed to the circumstances that ultimately lead to Kyle Smith?s death. This is an act of moral neglect, a conscious act of omission and a conscious decision to not report a serious crime against a child. This moral neglect is a crime against society.  

There is no single factor has been identified as the cause of child abuse. In general, there is an interaction of multiple risk factors in the environment that place children at risk to be victims of abuse. Researchers have identified abusive parents or caregivers as having risk factors such as substance abuse, low self-esteem, mental or physical disability, depression, history of abuse as a child, poor coping skills, poor impulse control, history of violent behavior or history of being raised in a group setting with no positive parental role.

All children are potential victims of child abuse, but some factors increase the risk for a child to be abused. What would researchers identify in non-reporters, in neighbors, that have witnessed child abuse and not reported it to authorities to save the child?s life?          

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services are currently investigating the matter. Barcenas and Arellano have been involved with family services in the past. In 2006, protective services removed their children from their home due to violence, physical and medical neglect. As a result of Christopher?s death, the other children have been removed from the home again. According to news stories, Christopher?s twin brother had suspicious injuries at the time of Christopher?s death.    

While women are more likely to be the abusers, men abuse more severely. Children under the age of three years old are the most likely victims of abuse, because the toddler stage is a very trying time for parents. Parents with unrealistic expectations and poor coping skills are most at risk for engaging in abusive behavior. Physical abuse is the most overt form of abuse.

Look for signs that the caregiver or parent delayed in seeking help for an injury or potential injury. Have a high-index of suspicion for an individual providing an inconsistent history about the mechanism of injury. Suspect intentional injury when the injury is inconsistent with the child?s developmental capabilities. Suspect abuse when fractures are present at varying degrees of healing stages. Look for bruises to the back of the body. Be suspicious if there are bald spots or broken hair on the scalp. Visualize the pattern of an injury to see if it resembles a belt, belt buckle, cigarette burn or scald injury from submersion in hot water. Suspect sexual abuse with trauma or infection of the perineal area.     

Because of a toddlers? lack of judgment, they are at high risk for injury. Toddlers have limited coordination, increased curiosity and toddler-problem solving abilities and this puts toddlers at risk for injury or death when there is a lack of supervision. Males tend to get injured more, but the overall incidence of injury peaks in this age group. Supervision is a key factor in the prevention of injury and death. The environment should be child-proofed. Children should play in fenced areas with constant supervision by adults. Toddlers should never be left unattended.  Deaths that are injury-related make-up approximately 37% of all causes of toddler deaths. Toddlers have increased gross motor skills to include walking, running, climbing, throwing and riding. They participate in more outdoor activities and have increased curiosity. They reach for objects and pull on objects. Toddlers are developing their fine motor skills. At this age, toddlers can open doors, gates, drawers, bottles and boxes. They become easily distracted and lack judgment. They do not fear heights, depth of water, heat from flames, volatile materials, electricity and animals. Because of the newly developed ability to wander and perform fine and gross motor skills, toddlers are at risk for injury or death when left unsupervised. Toddler's do not call out for help when they are in serious trouble. And they cannot call out for help when they are being asphyxiated by strangulation.

All babies cry.  It is frustrating.  Crying does not mean that you are a bad parent.  Your baby is not trying to make you angry.  Your baby may cry for up to 6 hours a day.  Crying does not hurt your baby.  Crying does not cause brain damage or other health problems.   Your baby will cry if there is yelling or fighting in the home.  Don?t fight in front of your baby.  Your baby may cry if too hot or too cold, or is teething.  Your baby may cry for no reason.  If you are worried about your baby, or your baby is sick or acting differently, see a doctor right away. You can calm your baby in a number of ways.  Change your baby?s diaper.  Feed and burp your baby.  Give your baby something to suck.  Rub your baby?s tummy or back.  Hold your baby against bare skin.  Wrap your baby tightly in a soft blanket.  Turn the lights out.   Motion may also help.  Gently rock your baby back and forth.  Put your baby in a cloth carrier and take a walk outside.  Rock your baby gently in an infant swing.  Take your baby for a ride in a stroller or car ? and be sure to use a car seat.  Sound may also help.  Sing to your baby.  Say ?Shhhh? in your baby?s ear louder than your baby is crying.  Turn on a radio, fan or vacuum cleaner to make a soothing noise while your baby is in the crib. Sometime, your baby will not stop crying.  Let the baby cry it out.  Calm yourself down.  Call the Talk Line number (415) 441-KIDS (5437). 

If you feel angry or out of control, do not pick up or hold your baby.  Put your baby gently in his or her crib and leave the room.  Take a break.  Take a deep breath and count to 10.  Then, count to 20.  Call a friend or neighbor for support.  Splash cold water on your face.  Take a shower.  Listen to music.  Exercise.  Make a cup of coffee or tea.  Call your doctor and ask for advice.  Your baby may be sick.  Ask a trusted family member or friend to watch your baby.   For more ideas on how to calm your crying baby, call the Talk Line anytime, day or night:  (415) 441-KIDS (5437)

Shaking your baby, for just a few seconds, can kill the baby.  Not all babies die from being shaken, though.  What else can happen if a baby is shaken?  Many parents feel very upset when their baby won?t stop crying and sometimes shake their baby.  Forceful shaking can cause permanent injuries, such as brain damage, blindness, coma, severe disability, mental retardation and death.

Many parents feel very upset when their baby won?t stop crying.  For more ideas on what to do if your baby won?t stop crying, call the Talk Line at 415-441-KIDS (5437).  This is a free, confidential, 24-hour counseling and crisis line for parents.  Share this information with everyone you know who cares for your baby, including family and babysitters.   Here is the website for the Talk Line: www.sfcapc.org/programsTalk_line.htm

If a baby has already been shaken and you need legal advice or a lawyer or attorney for a shaken baby, please call the Keane Law Firm at 888-592-KIDS (5437).  The Keane Law Firm represents babies who have suffered shaken baby syndrome.

Unrestrained passengers are four times more likely to die during a car crash. For infants, a nearly 70% reduction in fatality may be achieved with the proper use of restraints. There are several types of car restraint systems that can be used. Depending on the maturity of your child, you may choose from the following seating systems: Infant-only rear-facing seats, convertible-combination seats, forward-facing seats, booster seats, seat belts and travel vests. Vehicles made after the year 2002 have a LATCH system to secure child seating systems. LATCH is an acronym for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. This is a system that can secure the safety seat without using the seat belts. However, depending on the make of the automobile and safety seat, your child safety seat may still require the use of your safety belts. Please follow the manufacturer?s instruction for correct installation of a safety seat. The majority of collisions at intersections occur within the first six seconds of the traffic light change.  

Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is an injurious condition caused by the shaking of an infant or child.  The action of rapidly shaking an infant or child causes the sudden forward, backward and sideway motion of the head. During the shaking action the brain is injured from hitting against the inside of the bony skull, causing inflammation, bleeding, separation of vessels and nerve fibers in the soft brain tissue on all sides of the brain. The brain of an infant or child is very soft because it has more water content and it is easier to injure than an adult brain. Therefore, less energy is required to cause lethal injury to an infant or child?s brain.  In SBS, the eyes may get injured by the sudden increase in pressure and motion around the soft tissues that make up the delicate structure of the eyes. After the shaking, the brain and the eyes bleed inside the confined spaces they are contained in.  This bleeding causes high pressure to build within the head and eyes. The damage caused by shaking the head, brain and eye structures and the increasing high pressure that follows causes permanent injury or death for the infant or child. If death does not occur the infant or child may be left with permanent brain damage, blindness, neuromuscular disability, paralysis, deafness, learning disabilities and/or a seizure disorder.

The common signs and symptoms of SBS include poor feeding, failure to thrive, vomiting, weakness, irritability, a change in overall muscle tone, decreased alertness, seizures, pale skin color, cool skin temperature, difficulty breathing and sudden respiratory or cardiac arrest. The fontanelles may be swollen depending on the age of the infant. It is important to remember that there may be no bruising, scrapes or outward physical signs of trauma. There may be only a change in behavior as described in the first sentence. It is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. 

Approximately eighty percent of dog bites occur by a dog that is known to the victim and is usually a pet of the owner or neighbor. Children are three times more likely than adults to sustain serious injuries from dog bites. Over half of the child victims sustain significant injuries to the face. Statistics show that the younger the child the more likely that injury will be sustained to the head and neck. Children are at a greater risk for being bitten because their lack of experience in interpreting a dog?s pre-bite behavior while attempting to play with dogs.    

It is important to discern between dog bites and canine homicide. One kennel reported that of the children killed by dogs (canine homicide), nearly 70% of the victims were under the age of ten-years-old, nearly 22% are under the age of one year and approximately 7% were sleeping infants. Any dog can and will bite under certain circumstances.   

It is important to remember the greatest single cause of canine homicide and dog bites are irresponsible dog owners. Dog owners that do not take responsibly for properly training and supervising their dogs are the single greatest cause of dog bites and dog attacks. Experienced pet owners know how much responsibility and work are required to choose the appropriate dog to bring into the home and neighborhood where children are present. A majority of dog bite incidents occur because the dog owners did not fully appreciate the necessity for educating themselves to the proper methods of raising, socializing and supervising the dog.   

Developmentally, adolescents seek out acceptance from peers and place greater emphasis in that direction during this phase of their lives. Often times, the adolescent will engage in risk taking activity to achieve this acceptance from someone outside the family. This phenomenon occurs in many forms. Family influence, though responsible for the development of moral code and identification, figures less prominently in the social development of an adolescent. This is a temporary phase in the lives of children. However, it is a phase at which the adolescent is most vulnerable to harm from outside influences. The key is protecting the adolescent until young adulthood when more responsible decision-making begins to occur.       

The sex crime in this court case, as others before it, illustrates the need for the development of public policy that increases penalties against predators that use the internet as a tool to commit crimes against other people. Penalties for these crimes should automatically carry harsher sentencing when internet is a factor in a case. Because perpetrators are looking to commit this crime using a tool that increases their victim pool; it no longer is a crime against one person, it is plotting a crime against masses of potential victims, including all of our children.  

This case also emphasizes that our children need censorship and supervision to protect them from the danger they face as they seek to socialize with people they meet from the internet. An additional feature to protect minors may include mandatory parental identifiers to join websites, even for children over the age of 14. This feature would make parents responsible for the activity of their child while on the internet. Parental identifiers may be included with the membership or the membership is denied. Audit trails will show when parents monitor their child?s activity on websites including, but not limited to MySpace. Parents are not absolved of the responsibility to monitor the activity of their children on the internet. While some may make the case that there is an intrusion of privacy or a barrier to the self-expression of the child; others may make the case that there is moral neglect when a child is allowed to surf the net into questionable territories that is perceivably an obvious harm. Somewhere therein is the answer.        

As a child grows from infancy, starts to walk, ride a bike, and drive a car; the child?s risk for injury and death changes with the child?s developmental stage and lifestyle. The type of death and injury changes with the development level of the child. With the exception of infants, accidents are the number one cause of mortality in children. County Fairs are common events during the spring and summer seasons. The carnival rides are disassembled and assembled as the carnival travels to the various locations. The machinery endures much wear and tear. And the skill level of the people responsible for assembling the ride may vary.  While it is not known how this accident occurred at this time, consider whether amusement ride conditions are safer at stationary amusement parks versus traveling carnivals. Large established stationary amusement park rides are not subjected to the disassembly and assembly rate as compared to the traveling machine.

Death related to fire and burns is the third leading cause of injury-related deaths in children between the ages of one and nine years of age.  Approximately 3,000 children die a year from burn injuries. House fires are responsible for very lethal injuries and are usually associated with inhalation injuries due to smoke exposure. Approximately 45% of house fire victims die as a result of their complex injuries. Approximately 500 children die in fires annually. Approximately 83, 000 children are treated in emergency departments annually for burn injuries. Death rates are highest in the younger population. Aside from the serious nature of burn injuries, often inhalation injuries complicate the clinical course for burn victims. In fact, burn victims die as a result of inhalation injury. History of fire entrapment leads to a high index of suspicion for inhalation injury. During exposure to fire, the victim inhales toxic fumes that arise from the adjacent environmental agent that is burning. Smoke from combustible items in the environment often cause inhalation injuries to the upper airway and this has a more rapid onset of inflammation. Clues that inhalation injury may have occurred may be found in the mechanism of injury or by listening to the lung sounds. For example, providers will suspect inhalation injury if the burn victim was in a confined space at the time of the trauma.

This child lived an isolated life at the hands of a very troubled individual or small group of people that know about this horrendous act. Please help the community find who did this to this child. Investigators have named him Baby Lollipops until his real identity is known. He is at the morgue and can?t be buried until he is identified.   

The nature of a non-intentional injury and death are influenced by multiple factors, such as the developmental stage of the child, the child?s behavior, gender, race, socioeconomic status, parental (or other) supervision, and the environment. In general, male children are more likely to be injured than female children. Children of lower socio-economic status are more likely to be injured than children from upper socio-economic status. To prevent abuse, monitor strangers around your child. Look for signs that the caregiver or parent delayed in seeking help for an injury or potential injury. Have a high-index of suspicion for an individual providing an inconsistent history about the mechanism of injury. Suspect intentional injury when the injury is inconsistent with the child?s developmental capabilities. Well adjusted parenting styles are learned behaviors. Good parenting is not instinctual. Abusive adults are generally grown abused children with poor coping skills. The likelihood of being an abuser increases significantly if an individual was abused as a child. While women are more likely and more frequently to be the abusers, men abuse more severely and are more likely to be sexual abusers. Children under the age of three years old are the most likely victims of abuse, because the toddler stage is a very trying time for parents. Parents with unrealistic expectations and poor coping skills are most at risk for engaging in abusive behavior.

The Keane Law Firm is seeking your assistance to identify this man in the photos. If you recognize him, please call your local police agency as soon as possible.  

Injury to the genital region is indicative of sexual abuse. Suspect intentional injury when the injury is inconsistent with the child?s developmental capabilities. Suspect sexual abuse with trauma or infection of the perineal area. Moral neglect exists when parents or caregivers allow a child to remain in environments with immoral conditions. The long term affects of child abuse include developmental arrest in developing basic trust and self worth into adulthood.

Burns and fires are one of the leading causes of death for children. In fact, burn injuries are the second most common cause of death in children, second to motor vehicle accidents. Thousands of children are hospitalized every year with burn injuries. Approximately 3,000 children die a year from burn injuries.  Approximately 500 children die in fires annually. Approximately 83, 000 children are treated in emergency departments annually for burn injuries. If burn injuries are severe, the survivors suffer varying degrees of permanent physical disfigurement and psychological trauma. Burns are widely regarded as one of the most painful and complex injuries that a victim may endure.  Survival and recovery from burn injuries is often very difficult and lengthy with serious complications along the way. In fact, statistics show that children under four years old are two times more likely to sustain a burn injury than older children and therefore their death rate from burn injuries is higher. Death rates are highest in the younger population. Males and children are the most likely victims of serious burn injuries.

House fires are responsible for very lethal injuries and are usually associated with inhalation injuries due to smoke exposure. It is known that a majority of burn victims are burned from residential fires. And a majority of house fires or injuries involve cooking equipment or cigarettes. Inhalation injury is almost always associated with structural fire and accounts for a much early and late mortality.  

Carmona and Amaya?s three children were removed from their home in 2006 due to evidence of serious abuse inflicted upon them at the hands of their parents. The children were taken from the family?s trailer home in Dripping Springs located in Hays County, TX. Investigators and news stories report that the children were covered with bruises and more than 100 bite marks total. The foster mother provided testimony regarding the developmental delay manifested in the children. For instance, a couple of the children can?t walk upstairs due to previous fractures to their bones. The children remain in foster care at this time.

According to the CDC, 1,490 children died from abuse and neglect in the Unites States for the year 2004. This number decreased in 2005 to 1,460 deaths. Greater than 75% of these deaths occurred in children under four years of age. A total of 872,000 children were reportedly abused in that same time frame. In 2005, child protective services investigated 3.6 million cases of reported child abuse complaints, which resulted in discovery of 899,000 cases of child abuse. Mothers have demonstrated a more frequency tendency to abuse and are generally younger in age than male adult abusers. However male adult abusers inflict more severe abuse outcomes.  

Well adjusted parenting styles are learned behaviors. Good parenting is not instinctual. Abusive adults are generally grown abused children with poor coping skills. That is not to say that all abusers were abused and all abused children will be abusers. Some people that were abused as children do not abuse their own children. And some children that were not abused as children grow up to be abusive parents. However, the likelihood of being an abuser increases significantly if an individual was abused as a child. While women are more likely and more frequently to be the abusers, men abuse more severely and are more likely to be sexual abusers. Children under the age of three years old are the most likely victims of abuse, because the toddler stage is a very trying time for parents. Parents with unrealistic expectations and poor coping skills are most at risk for engaging in abusive behavior. Physical abuse is the most overt form of abuse. Physical abuse can result in brain injury, fractured bones, soft tissue injuries, bruises, cuts and burns. Injury to the genital region is indicative of sexual abuse. Neglect of a child is an act of omission or failure to meet the child?s needs, such as poor nutrition, severe malnutrition, failure to thrive and lack of medical attention. Poor hygiene or unsanitary conditions may result in skin infection and injury. Moral neglect exists when parents or caregivers allow a child to remain in environments with immoral conditions. The long term affects of child abuse include developmental arrest in developing basic trust and self worth into adulthood.    

There is no single factor has been identified as the cause of child abuse. In general, there is an interaction of multiple risk factors in the environment that place children at risk to be victims of abuse. Researchers have identified abusive parents or caregivers as having risk factors such as substance abuse, low self-esteem, mental or physical disability, depression, history of abuse as a child, poor coping skills, poor impulse control, history of violent behavior or history of being raised in a group setting with no positive parental role.

All children are potential victims of child abuse, but some factors increase the risk for a child to be abused. Children with disabilities are twice as likely to be emotionally, physically or sexually abused. Children with behavioral disorders that manifest as aggression or temper tantrums are at an increased risk to be abused. Please call The Keane Law Firm if you have a child that has sustained severe injury as a victim of abuse.      

Allegedly, Piedmont Avenue Elementary is known for violence and there appears to be no resolution to this inexcusable problem. The San Francisco Chronicle refers to this school as a danger zone, among others.  

One key principal to reduce death and injury in children is to restructure the environment to improve safety.  Prevention from injury related to non-accidental injury requires supervision. Supervision is a key factor in preventing children from becoming victims of crime on school grounds. The educators claim they can?t supervise before and after-school activities and the parents are responsible for watching their children after-school. When so many children are enduring assaults in this school, at what point does it become moral neglect and a failure to protect? 

Drowning is the second leading cause of death in small children. According to the CDC, children between the ages of one and four years of age are more likely to drown in swimming pools and hot tubs. Mortality rates secondary to drowning are three times higher for males. Approximately 78% of drowning victims are male. Unlike adults, young children do not call out for help while in distress, they generally drown silently. Near-drowning accidents can result in permanent brain damage. For every child that drowns there are approximately five near-drowning episodes in children. Drowning is the second highest cause of injury-related deaths in children between the ages of one and nine years old.   

Supervise toddlers at all times while they are playing in the pool. Stationary pools should have a locked fence around them. Personal well-fitting flotation devices should be on all children during water recreation. Never leave a toddler unsupervised during play time in or near the water. Because young children do not call out for help while in distress, they need supervision for this reason. Lapses in adult supervision, even while parents are around but distracted, are very common features of drowning accidents. Introducing swimming lessons and water safety at a young age will reduce the likelihood of drowning or near-drowning mishaps through the lifespan of a child.      

http://www.wral.com/news/local/video/2641849  

Between 15-20% of burns sustained by children are due to child abuse. Approximately 3,000 children die a year from burn injuries. Burns are widely regarded as one of the most painful and complex injuries that a victim may endure.  For toddlers, the most common type of burn injury is scalding burns from hot tap water, boiling water, coffee and hot food. Scalding burns are second to sun over-exposure as the most common burn injury sustained by children. A majority of the victims, under 4 years of age, suffer scald burns or contact burns. Sixty-five percent are scald burns because hot water causes more hospitalizations and death than any other hot substance. Death related to fire and burns is the third leading cause of injury-related deaths in children between the ages of one and nine years of age.  If a child is scalded by submersion in a hot tub, the injury is life threatening due to the large surface area of injury. The skin of a toddler is thin and prone to sunburn and injuries such as burns from hot liquids or flames. Developmentally speaking, the skin of younger children is thinner and therefore an injury from burns can cause a greater degree of injury. Keep in mind that a young child?s skin burns at a lower temperature and a greater depth than that of an older child or an adult?s skin.

Second degree - Second degree burns generally involve redness, blisters and pain. Second degree burns may cause scarring and infection to occur. It is deeper than first degree burns. Weeping from the burned areas is characteristic of second degree burns. Certainly pain is an issue. This degree of burn injury may take up to six weeks to heal if it is an uncomplicated injury. The temperature of the injury site may vary. The color may be red and mottled. Generally this degree of burn results from scalding or flash burns, depending on the length of exposure to the burn source.

Third degree - Third degree burns are evident when the burn injury is deeper than the skin. The muscle and bone may be involved. Third degree burns will leave scars. The skin is charred, white or leathery. There is no blanching. A burn of this degree is indicative of lengthy exposure to the burn source. Pain may or may not be present. This degree of burn usually results from flame, chemical or electrical burns.

For children, major burn injury is described as one that involves 15% or more of a child?s total body surface area.

To prevent scald burns, turn hot water heater temperature down below 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The safest bathing temperature is 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Child day care centers and residences with small children should have their water heaters adjusted to no higher than 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Newer water heaters located at private and public areas are set at lower settings.