If you suspect a child is being abused, call 310-0000 to get the telephone number of your local office or call the Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-387-KIDS (5437).

The following may indicate the possibility of child abuse:

• Unexplained bruises or injuries, especially in places of the body that children do not normally injure during regular play or movement
• Burns which leave a pattern outlining the object which was used to make the burn, such as a cigarette, an iron, or an electric stove burner; burns on the hands, feet or buttocks caused by scalding water; and rope burns caused by being tied
• A child who is continually hungry, unsuitably dressed for the weather and/or always dirty
• A young child who is often left alone
• A child who is usually aggressive, angry, and hostile to other people
• A child who demonstrates withdrawn behaviour, who refuses to participate or dress appropriately for physical activities
• A child who shows unusual knowledge of sexual matters beyond their age of development, who exhibits sexualized behaviour around adults or other children
• A child who hints or talks out rightly about sexual abuse
• A child or adolescent who repeatedly runs away from home
• An adolescent who is extremely withdrawn or aggressive