Reporting Suspected Child Abuse
Purpose:
This procedure should be used when an employee or member
suspects that a child observed by them in their official capacity with this
organization is an abused or maltreated child or when a legally responsible
person provides information that, if correct, would cause a child to be
considered abused or maltreated.
NYS Social Services Law, Section 413 requires Emergency
Medical Technicians (EMTs & AEMTs) to report, or cause to be reported,
suspected child abuse and maltreatment they identify while performing their
duties as an EMT. The responsibility
for reporting should not be transferred to hospital personnel or other health
care providers.
Procedure:
1.
Assure that the scene is safe. If the scene is dangerous, leave immediately and contact law
enforcement from a safe location.
2.
Provide patient care in accordance with applicable State and
local protocols.
3.
Document observations and findings of suspected abuse or
maltreatment on the Prehospital Care Report (PCR) using factual, objective, and
nonjudgmental statements.
4.
Do not delay transport to collect additional information
about suspected abuse or maltreatment.
5.
Do not confront parents, guardians, caregivers or other
parties present. Obtain information in
a non-judgmental manner.
6.
Make every effort to continually observe the suspected
abused/maltreated child while you are at the scene.
7.
If no legally responsible party is available, request EMS
transport of the child to the closest appropriate hospital or medical receiving
facility.
a.
Advise an EMT or AEMT with the transporting ambulance of
your suspicions. Record the name of the
EMT or AEMT you reported to on your PCR.
b.
Immediately, or as soon as practical after returning to
service, make a report to the NYS Child Abuse and Maltreatment Register
following procedure # 10 a (below).
8.
If a legally responsible party is present and consents to
transport, follow procedure # 7 (above).
9.
If a legally responsible party or any other person refuses
transport and you determine that transport is necessary or that the child would
be in danger without transport, make all usual efforts to convince the parties
of the need for transport. If this is
not successful, discreetly call for law enforcement to respond to the scene.
10.
If a legally responsible party refuses transport, or
transport is not necessary and the child does not appear in danger, document
your findings on a PCR.
a.
Immediately, or as soon as practical after returning to
service, make an oral report to the NYS Child Abuse and Maltreatment Register.
i.
Oral reports shall be made by calling 800-635-1522.
ii.
All telephone reports must be followed within 48 hours by a
written report using form DSS-2221A (attached – also available on line at http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/cps/2221A.pdf
)
iii.
Complete the DSS-2221A with as much information as possible
and forward to the local child protective services where the child
resides. Child protective services will
obtain information you are unable to provide.
If the child resides in a residential institution, submit form DSS-2221A
directly to the NYS Child Abuse and Maltreatment Register.
iv.
Attach a copy of form DSS-2221-A to the agency’s original
PCR.
Issued by: EMS Coordinator Mike McEvoy
Original date of issue: January 27, 2002
Revised: June 23, 2002
Attachment: NYS Form DSS-2221A