Board of Commissioners proclaim October 4 as TEN-4 Awareness Day

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Bowling Green City Commission and the Warren County Fiscal Court proclaimed Oct. 4, 2021 TEN-4 Awareness Day.

City Commissioners Melinda Hill and Sue Parrigin along with Warren County Magistrate Doug Gorman delivered the proclamation at Bowling Green City Hall to representatives of the Family Enrichment Center.

Research from pediatricians has led to a rule called TEN-4 Bruising Rule that says that any bruising before a child is cruising — at approximately four months of age— and any bruising on the torso, ears, and neck (TEN) are significant red flags for child abuse.

Kentucky requires the training of certain professionals, such as nurses, doctors, social workers, and first responders, on this rule within the Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma training, but it is imperative to have as many adults as possible ready to identify these concerning bruises; and, the Kosair Charities Face It Movement, a campaign to end child abuse, aims to bring awareness to the TEN-4 Bruising Rule with a traditional and social media campaign and educational events on the days surrounding Oct. 4th— TEN-4 on 10/04.

The University of Louisville and University of Kentucky forensic pediatricians and their teams are providing training the week of October 4, 2021 for free to educate about the bruising rule to identify abuse early, as well as share tips for prevention.

The Board of Commissioners asks all citizens to do their part in recognizing and preventing child abuse.