Physical Abuse
Support those who fall victim of physical abuse
Children
Physical abuse is hurting a child on purpose causing injuries such as burns, cuts, bruises and broken bones. Children who are physically abused suffer from violence such as being hit, kicked, burned, slapped or having items thrown at them. Hitting or shaking a baby could cause a non-accidental head injury.
Parents and carers that physically abuse their children may make up or cause the symptoms of illness in their child by giving them medicine for instance which they don’t need to make the child unwell. When this occurs it is called Fabricated Illness.
For more information on physical abuse please visit the NSPCC website.
Adults
This is the physical ill treatment of an adult, which may or may not cause physical injury.
- Assault, hitting, slapping, punching, kicking, hair-pulling, biting, pushing
- Rough handling
- Scalding and burning
- Physical punishments
- Inappropriate or unlawful use of restraint
- Making someone purposefully uncomfortable (e.g. opening a window and removing blankets)
- Involuntary isolation or confinement
- Misuse of medication (e.g. over-sedation)
- Forcible feeding or withholding food
- not giving adequate food or drink.
- Misuse or illegal use of restraint, restricting movement (e.g. tying someone to a chair)
- Poisoning
- Exposure to heat or cold
What does Physical Abuse look like?
Symptoms and signs can be, but are not limited to:
- No explanation for injuries or inconsistency with the account of what happened
- Injuries are inconsistent with the person’s lifestyle
- Bruising, cuts, welts, burns and/or marks on the body or loss of hair in clumps
- Frequent injuries
- Unexplained falls
- Subdued or changed behaviour in the presence of a particular person
- Signs of malnutrition
- Failure to seek medical treatment or frequent changes of GP
- Fractures
- Burns
- Bed sores
- Fear
- Depression
- Unexplained weight loss
- Assault (can be intentional or reckless)