LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kosair for Kids is raising awareness to help people identify signs of abuse in children.
On Friday, Kosair's "Face It Movement" held classes on "TEN-4" day, or Oct. 4, to help equip people with the resources and tools necessary to keep children safe.
Child abuse pediatrician Dr. Melissa Currie said the TEN stands for torso, ears and neck, which can be crucial in spotting possible signs of child abuse, and preventing it from happening again.
"The TEN-4 rule is really about recognizing bruising in young children that is high risk and concerning for abuse," Currie said. "And the TEN-4 rule helps us identify that bruising. So we're raising awareness that the rule exists, and how folks can get training to apply it and learn what it stands for."
Currie added the most important part of the TEN-4 rule is if there's any bruising on an infant that isn't pulling up or taking steps yet should be checked out immediately as that's not normal.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear also proclaimed Oct. 4 as "TEN-4 Awareness Day," to promote overall awareness in ending child abuse and neglect.
To learn more about the rule and what to do if you notice the signs, click here.
Any expecting parents can also sign up for the state's HANDS program that focuses on helping babies reach important developmental milestones Kentucky officials said.
"The mission of HANDS is developmental delay prevention," HANDS Program Director Tamara Brown said. "Innately, focusing on healthy development is abuse prevention because educating and supporting parents about development repudiates some of the risk factors for child abuse, and ultimately because abused children will not develop on a healthy trajectory."
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