COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. --
In 2008 Memorial Hospital had 26 cases of suspected child abuse. Of those, three children died.
This year there have already been 25 cases of suspected abuse, with six deaths.
“On average a child cries 2.5 hours a day. That’s a healthy child. A sick one can cry a lot more than that,” explained Sally Duncan, RN, trauma outreach and injury prevention specialist at Memorial Hospital.
Parents are ill prepared for that, added Duncan, and sleep deprivation on top of that can make it extremely frustrating to care for a child.
It’s what parents do in a moment of frustration that Memorial's new education and prevention program is hoping to change.
"They might shake the child out of frustration and that can be deadly or disabling permanently," said Duncan.
Parents may not realize just how vulnerable babies are. With a large head relative to their body, weak neck muscles and an undeveloped brain, it doesn't take much force to cause severe, even fatal injuries.
Injuries like brain bleeds, brain swelling and skull fractures are not uncommon in Memorial’s intensive care unit. But that’s something nurses and doctors hope will soon change.
The program Memorial Hospital is using was started in Pennsylvania at the Hershey Medical Center.
“After putting this program into place they decreased incidences of shaken baby syndrome in their population by 47 percent within five years,” said Duncan.
Beginning August 1, every patient who delivers their baby in Memorial will receive education about how to deal with their frustration and prevent shaken baby syndrome, just as they do about bathing a baby, changing a diaper and nursing.
“It will be part of the standard of care all new parents receive,” said Duncan.
Memorial Auxiliary and the El Pomar Foundation have provided a grant totaling $25,000 to start this program.
KPC Kids Place is also partnering with Memorial Hospital for this program. They offer a place for parents to go to drop off their child when they are frustrated beyond they're abilities to cope and just need a break.
Click on the camera icon to view the story as it aired on FOX21 News.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKXRM