Ambulance called for child protection

 

 

 

Cars pulled off in an orderly direction to allow the ambulance safe thoroughfare. I watched as a seamless guard of honour happened while we all waited at our red light. The mobile lanes of traffic halted: Ambulance, with siren blasting and lights flashing made it through a very busy intersection within seconds. The ambulance was responding to a critical incident with the help of motorists who knew nothing of the trauma awaiting at the destination.

Imagine what would happen if child protection had the same community response. Is it possible that community will ever hear child abuse as an ambulance siren and pave the way to clear a path of protection for the child? For years the traffic light analogy has been used to educate around risky behaviours: Green behaviours are good, go ahead behaviours, amber light are risky, back off behaviours and red are STOP behaviours.

Thinking over hundreds of children I have treated, I can only wish that somebody had sounded a siren for them when they were being abused and hurt by adults tasked the responsibility of keeping them safe from harm.

Next time you hear an ambulance siren, think of how many child abuse you sirens you may have failed to respond to…..and change your behaviour. Pull over for kids at risk – their functional development relies on first aide: somebody brave enough to recognise and help them.

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