Condition of injured toddler improves
4/11/2007 8:42 AM
By: News 14 Carolina
http://www.news14charlotte.com/content/local_news/?ArID=136526&SecID=2
STATESVILLE, N.C. -- A toddler believed to be the victim of child abuse has been upgraded to fair condition.
Police say 2-year-old Sylvia Martinez was rushed to the hospital on April 2 when she lost consciousness at the home her mother shares with Armando Flores Morales. They say an examination showed strong indications of physical abuse.
Morales is charged with felony child abuse and the girl's mother, Heather Altman, is charged with accessory after the fact.
The Department of Social Services has custody of the girl.
Note from Chris Cejas Memorial: Fortunately, this child was saved from being killed but this is yet another grim reminder of why we need to work to end this now!
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Monday, April 9, 2007
Helping kids protect themselves
Helping kids protect themselves
10:40 AM EDT on Monday, April 9, 2007
http://www.wcnc.com/news/topstories/stories/wcnc-040907-jmn-DBAV-kids_protect.58efd0a.html
By DAN STARKS / WCNC
E-mail Dan: DStarks@WCNC.com
Hundreds of thousands of kids are reported missing every year in the United States and a new program is working to help children look out for themselves.
On average, more than 2,000 kids are reported missing each day. A new program called radKIDS is working to empower kids to protect themselves. The Mecklenburg Medical Alliance sponsored the training in Charlotte. About two dozen adults are now certified radKIDS instructors here in Mecklenburg County. They will take their training to schools and community organizations, teaching kids.
Steve Daley travels around the country as a trainer for radKIDS teaching adults to teach kids.
“Basically you don't have to think about it and because it is instinctive, the mindset is the most important part that a child understands is that no one has the right to hurt them, and then we add the physical skill and it actually happens almost automatically,” he said.
Making it instinctive is the program's biggest asset according to Daley.
“Instead of 'help me help me' it's 'how dare you touch me,'” he said.
So far Daley said more than 30 radKIDS have saved themselves from abduction, but we may never really know how many kids they've helped.
“Most radKIDS escape before the abduction starts. Its a bad day when the bad guy grabs you,” said Daley.
For more information on the self-defense training for kids, contact the Mecklenburg Medical Alliance.
Safety tips for kids
Bad people come in a variety of forms, to a stranger looking for a lost puppy, to a stranger approaching them in an automobile.
Your child’s best strategy is to keep some distance between themselves and any stranger.
Your child should learn how to make as much noise (drawing attention) as possible.
Teach your child that it’s OK to strike a stranger if the person puts a hand on them. They should learn how to strike with their feet, elbows, hands and even their head.
They should learn to run to safety…not away from danger. Teach them what a safe place is and how to “choose the shoes”.
There will be programs starting soon addressing these issues through a course called radKIDS.
Watch video at http://www.wcnc.com/news/topstories/stories/wcnc-040907-jmn-DBAV-kids_protect.58efd0a.html
10:40 AM EDT on Monday, April 9, 2007
http://www.wcnc.com/news/topstories/stories/wcnc-040907-jmn-DBAV-kids_protect.58efd0a.html
By DAN STARKS / WCNC
E-mail Dan: DStarks@WCNC.com
Hundreds of thousands of kids are reported missing every year in the United States and a new program is working to help children look out for themselves.
On average, more than 2,000 kids are reported missing each day. A new program called radKIDS is working to empower kids to protect themselves. The Mecklenburg Medical Alliance sponsored the training in Charlotte. About two dozen adults are now certified radKIDS instructors here in Mecklenburg County. They will take their training to schools and community organizations, teaching kids.
Steve Daley travels around the country as a trainer for radKIDS teaching adults to teach kids.
“Basically you don't have to think about it and because it is instinctive, the mindset is the most important part that a child understands is that no one has the right to hurt them, and then we add the physical skill and it actually happens almost automatically,” he said.
Making it instinctive is the program's biggest asset according to Daley.
“Instead of 'help me help me' it's 'how dare you touch me,'” he said.
So far Daley said more than 30 radKIDS have saved themselves from abduction, but we may never really know how many kids they've helped.
“Most radKIDS escape before the abduction starts. Its a bad day when the bad guy grabs you,” said Daley.
For more information on the self-defense training for kids, contact the Mecklenburg Medical Alliance.
Safety tips for kids
Bad people come in a variety of forms, to a stranger looking for a lost puppy, to a stranger approaching them in an automobile.
Your child’s best strategy is to keep some distance between themselves and any stranger.
Your child should learn how to make as much noise (drawing attention) as possible.
Teach your child that it’s OK to strike a stranger if the person puts a hand on them. They should learn how to strike with their feet, elbows, hands and even their head.
They should learn to run to safety…not away from danger. Teach them what a safe place is and how to “choose the shoes”.
There will be programs starting soon addressing these issues through a course called radKIDS.
Watch video at http://www.wcnc.com/news/topstories/stories/wcnc-040907-jmn-DBAV-kids_protect.58efd0a.html
Forensic nurses vital for making case
Forensic nurses vital for making case
3/23/2007 5:34 PM http://www.news14charlotte.com/content/local_news/?ArID=135934&SecID=2
By: Megan Bradley
CHARLOTTE -- Police may arrest sexual assault suspects but forensic nurses are vital to making the cases. Without them, the arrests might never happen.
Just this week, police arrested a Gastonia man and charged him with sexually assaulting a six-year-old. Cemal Roberts, 26, is behind bars in large part because of evidence collected by a forensic nurse.
The nation is glued to crime investigation television. Real life forensic work may not be as glamorous, but the approach is the same.
“Thinking outside the box, getting evidence from places you’d never thought you would be able to collect evidence from,” explained Manager of Forensic Nurses Kellie Harney.
Forensic nurses like Harney preserve and document evidence from assault victims who enter the ER. The collection begins with clothing and continues until every possible clue has been uncovered.
“If a victim is drug out into the woods, we collect evidence like leaves and stuff in that area that was on the victim, so we can pinpoint certain areas that further investigation will allow us to put together the pieces of the puzzle,” Harney continued.
A DNA finding is the ultimate goal of the exam. Find that and you can almost count on a conviction.
It's why Harney does it.
“I like empowering women to be able to do something about what happened to them,” she said.
That’s possible now because of the teaming up with the District Attorney’s office and law enforcement.
“Between all of us, it’s a huge victory,” Harney said.
In addition to sexual assault, forensic nurses play key roles in domestic violence, child neglect and elder abuse cases. Just like the hit dramas on television, every day more of these programs pop up in real-life emergency departments.
Both Presbyterian Hospital and Carolinas Medical Center have forensic nurses on staff.
Watch video at http://www.news14charlotte.com/content/local_news/?ArID=135934&SecID=2
3/23/2007 5:34 PM http://www.news14charlotte.com/content/local_news/?ArID=135934&SecID=2
By: Megan Bradley
CHARLOTTE -- Police may arrest sexual assault suspects but forensic nurses are vital to making the cases. Without them, the arrests might never happen.
Just this week, police arrested a Gastonia man and charged him with sexually assaulting a six-year-old. Cemal Roberts, 26, is behind bars in large part because of evidence collected by a forensic nurse.
The nation is glued to crime investigation television. Real life forensic work may not be as glamorous, but the approach is the same.
“Thinking outside the box, getting evidence from places you’d never thought you would be able to collect evidence from,” explained Manager of Forensic Nurses Kellie Harney.
Forensic nurses like Harney preserve and document evidence from assault victims who enter the ER. The collection begins with clothing and continues until every possible clue has been uncovered.
“If a victim is drug out into the woods, we collect evidence like leaves and stuff in that area that was on the victim, so we can pinpoint certain areas that further investigation will allow us to put together the pieces of the puzzle,” Harney continued.
A DNA finding is the ultimate goal of the exam. Find that and you can almost count on a conviction.
It's why Harney does it.
“I like empowering women to be able to do something about what happened to them,” she said.
That’s possible now because of the teaming up with the District Attorney’s office and law enforcement.
“Between all of us, it’s a huge victory,” Harney said.
In addition to sexual assault, forensic nurses play key roles in domestic violence, child neglect and elder abuse cases. Just like the hit dramas on television, every day more of these programs pop up in real-life emergency departments.
Both Presbyterian Hospital and Carolinas Medical Center have forensic nurses on staff.
Watch video at http://www.news14charlotte.com/content/local_news/?ArID=135934&SecID=2
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