_{Last Modified: 08/29/2024 08:47}

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Purpose

To ensure proper and timely reporting of suspected child abuse and/or neglect to investigative agencies.

While firefighters and emergency medical workers are not classified as mandatory repo1ters under the ORC, the Toledo Fire and Rescue Department recognizes that our profession places us in close contact with children and that it is our duty to immediately repo1t suspected abuse or neglect to the receiving hospital, TPD and Lucas County Children's Services.

A report does not indicate an accusation of guilt, however, a low threshold to report possible abuse/neglect is in the best interest of both the patient and the caregivers. One of our roles as public safety professionals is to identify and report potential child abuse/neglect or at-risk children, not investigate or make determinations of guilt.

Law and Definitions

Ohio Revised Code (ORC) section 2151.421 Reporting child abuse or neglect.

• Anyone who knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect based on facts that would cause a reasonable person in similar circumstances to suspect, that a child under eighteen years of age, or a person under twenty-one years of age with a developmental disability or physical impairment, has suffered or faces a threat of suffering any physical or mental wound, injury, disability, or other condition of a nature that reasonably indicates abuse or neglect of the child may report or cause reports to be made of that knowledge or reasonable cause to suspect to the entity or persons specified in this division.

ORC Section 2151.031 Abused child defined.

• As used in this chapter, an “abused child” includes any child who:

1. Is the victim of “sexual activity” as defined under Chapter 2907. of the Revised Code, where such activity would constitute an offense under that chapter, except that the count need not find that any person has been convicted of the offense in order to find that the child is an abused child;
   
   
2. Is endangered as defined in section 2919.22 of the Revised Code, except that the court need not find that any person has been convicted under that section in order to find that the child is an abused child;
   
   
3. Exhibits evidence of any physical or mental injury or death, inflicted other than by accidental means, or an i1tjury or death which is at variance with the history given of it. Except as provided in division (D) of this section, a child exhibiting evidence of corporal punislm1ent or other physical disciplinary measure by a parent, guardian, custodian, person having custody or control, or person in loco parentis of a child is not an abused child under this division if the measure is not prohibited under section 2919.22 of the Revised Code.
   
   
4. Because of the acts of his parents, guardian, or custodian, suffers physical or mental injury that harms or threatens to harm the child's health or welfare.
   
   
5. Is subjected to out-of-home care child abuse.

Policy/Procedure

If child abuse or neglect is suspected or there are any concerns involving a child as defined above, the officer or acting officer is to immediately report these findings directly to the Toledo Police Department, Lucas County Children's Services or the receiving hospital.

• Children that are the suspected victims of abuse and injured or those with injuries that cannot be explained should be transported to the closest, most appropriate facility by EMS for evaluation and your suspicions relayed to the receiving hospital and documented in the patient care report.

If you suspect abuse but the child is not going to be transported and you need to speak to someone immediately for the child's safety, request a TPD crew to make a repo1t and follow up with a call to Lucas County Children's Services at 419-213-2273 or submit a referral form upon return to the station.

The Lucas County Children's Services referral form can be found on the tfdweb under form 600-17 or in Appendix A, page 3 of this policy. This form can also be found on the desktop of each MDT. Complete the form, print it and fax it to the fax numbers listed on the bottom of the form.

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