I got an email a couple of years ago from a reader of Scout Life magazine’s Scouts in Action comics, the very popular section of the magazine in which we detail lifesaving actions taken by Scouts across the country.
The reader took issue with our use of the term “first responder.”
We used the term in the strictest Merriam-Webster way: a person (such as a police officer or an EMT) who is among those responsible for going immediately to the scene of an accident or emergency to provide assistance.
But the reader pointed out that as Scouts and Scout leaders trained in first aid, we are all legitimate first responders. No one expects us to perform open-heart surgery, but if we happen to be nearby when an emergency occurs, we can assess the situation, perform basic first aid and call 911 if needed.
It’s a fair point.
The same is true for child abuse prevention. It’s not up to us to render judgment on whether a child has been abused. It is not up to us to conduct an investigation.
For National Child Abuse Prevention Month, it’s worth remembering that it is up to us to raise an alarm if we have legitimate concerns.
What constitutes legitimate concerns that a child could be in danger?
A child who’s been abused has likely been told by their abuser that no one will believe them if they speak out. That’s why it’s important that, first and foremost, we should believe a child who says they’ve been abused.
Signs of child abuse may include:
- Withdrawal from friends or usual activities
- Changes in behavior — such as aggression, anger, hostility or hyperactivity — or changes in school performance
- Depression, anxiety, or unusual fears or a sudden loss of self-confidence
- Sleep problems and nightmares
- Frequent absences from school
- Rebellious or defiant behavior
- Self-harm or attempts at suicide
- Unexplained injuries
Indicators of sexual abuse may include:
- Sexually suggestive, inappropriate or promiscuous behavior or verbalization
- Expressing age-inappropriate knowledge of sexual relations
- Sexual victimization of other children
- Difficulty and/or pain when sitting or walking
Signs of online exploitation may include:
- Child excessively mentioning an adult they haven’t met in person
- Child having gifts of unknown origin
- Child being secretive about how they are spending time online
- A child who is withdrawn, upset or outraged after using the internet or texting
- Child has new phone numbers, texts or email addresses on their phone
What should a Scout leader or parent do if they have concerns about a child’s safety?
Adult leaders and youth Scouting America members have a responsibility to recognize, respond to and report all youth protection violations and abuse, including mandatory reporting to law enforcement.
If you learn that a Scouting volunteer is violating a Scouting America Youth Protection policy, such as texting a Scout one-on-one or meeting with a Scout in private, you should call the 24/7 Scouts First Helpline at 1-844-726-8871 or email scoutsfirst@scouting.org.
In cases of child abuse injury or medical emergencies, call 911 immediately.
There’s an old-timey saying that goes, “If you suspect a crime, drop a dime.”
It’s been a long time since it cost 10 cents to use a pay phone and even less time since pay phones became mostly irrelevant with the widespread use of cellphones, but the idea is still a good one.
A more recent saying, “If you see something, say something,” also applies here.
It’s not your job to investigate the situation further, and it’s not your job to determine if someone is guilty or not guilty.
Most people are naturally inclined to want to avoid trouble. They don’t want to get someone in trouble who doesn’t deserve it. They might have a suspicion, but they aren’t sure if they’re correct.
Scouting America’s Youth Protection policy is that you don’t have to be “sure.” You simply have to make the call.
Registered adult volunteers who fail to act in a situation that would call for a reasonable person to contact authorities will have their registration revoked.
Click here to learn more about Scouting’s Barriers to Abuse.
Click here for Scouting America’s complete guide to youth protection and adult leadership.
Click here for information on Scouting America’s Youth Protection Training program.
Click here for information about Scouting America’s anonymous reporting tool.
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