DCS Reports An Increase In Child Deaths In 2017

TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS—The number of children who died across the state as a result of abuse and neglect increased from 2016 to 2017, according to the Indiana Department of Child Services’ latest report on child fatalities.

DCS, in its report released Friday, said the agency examined the deaths of 314 children and determined that 65 ranging in age from one month to 15 died from abuse or neglect in fiscal year 2017. That is up from 59 who died in the previous year. The fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30.

Of those, 21 deaths were due to abuse while 44 were caused by neglect. Thirteen of the children who died, or about one in five, had prior contact with DCS, the agency said in a news release that accompanied the report.

Among the abuse cases included a mother who strangled her 4-year-old with a scarf because she was angry at the child’s father for leaving her alone with two children. The child was injured in 2014 but didn’t die until 2017, according to the report. The mother is serving a 20-year prison sentence for aggravated battery.

Forty-five children were younger than age 3, which aligns with national trends showing that young children are at the highest risk for abuse or neglect, the report said.

Out of the 92 counties in the state, 36 reported one or more deaths related to abuse or neglect, with Lake County having the most with nine deaths, while Marion County reported seven and Clark County reported four.

Twenty-seven or about 42% were determined to be accidental and 30 deaths were declared to be homicides. The manner of death in seven fatalities could not be determined and one death, that of a 15-year-old boy, was a suicide.

The leading cause of death in the abuse cases was head trauma, with 10 child fatalities. The most common cause of death in neglect cases came from either the child drowning or the child dying because the caregiver did not provide proper sleeping care.

In many of the deaths, the main person responsible for the child’s death was someone who was biologically related, most often the parent.

DCS reported that in many cases, either financial stresses or substance abuse within the families contributed to the child abuse or neglect.

“We’d only be speculating as to why, but this is a consistent trend,” said Noelle Russell, DCS spokesperson. “Substance abuse and poverty are consistently cited as among the most common contributing factors in child fatalities caused by abuse and neglect.”

The report cites the case of a 3-month-old child who died from a gunshot wound to the face. The uncle of the child, who said that he had used too much marijuana and had fallen asleep, was charged with murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death and pled guilty to reckless homicide with five years in prison.

In another case, a 7-year-old died of a traumatic brain injury as the result of an all-terrain vehicle crash. The child was riding between the mother and a friend who was learning to drive the vehicle. Investigators determined that the friend had taken a Jell-O shot before getting behind the controls and the mother tested positive for methamphetamines. The mother received a two-year prison sentence.

DCS, in the report, said the child death data is compiled from multiple source, including DCS records, death certificates, coroners’ reports, autopsy reports and law enforcement records.

FOOTNOTE: Brandon Barger is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalists.

Evansville Water will temporarily change disinfection

 Evansville, IN. – Beginning August 19 and continuing through September 23, 2019, the Evansville Water and Sewer Utility (EWSU) will temporarily change the disinfectant used in the water treatment process.  EWSU will be using free chlorine rather than the regularly used disinfectant (chloramine) during this time period.  This is the second and final of two such temporary switchovers for 2019.

What is Chloramine?

Chloramine is a disinfectant used in drinking water to remove bacteria and viruses that can make you sick.  It is made up of chlorine and ammonia.  EWSU has used chloramine as the disinfectant in its water treatment process since 1999.

What is Free Chlorine?

Free chlorine is a slightly stronger disinfectant than chloramine, and it is used to remove more resistant bacteria and viruses that may be found in the water distribution system.

Why would the EWSU Convert from Chloramine to Free Chlorine?

This brief, scheduled change in disinfectant is a standard water treatment practice to keep water mains clean and free of potentially harmful bacteria throughout the year.  State drinking water guidelines recommend that utilities using chloramine periodically switch to free chlorine for a period of time.  The temporary use of chlorine will ensure that a proper level of disinfectant is maintained throughout the network of water mains and pipes that deliver your drinking water.

Free chlorine is a more aggressive disinfectant than chloramine, and this temporary change in the water treatment process denies bacteria the ability to form resistance to the usual disinfection treatment process.  Switching to free chlorine is a proactive step to ensure that we maintain optimal levels of disinfectant in the water distribution system.

As always, the drinking water will be regularly monitored to ensure that the water delivered meets, or is better than, federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards.

Why Does EWSU Use Chloramine Most of the Year?

While chlorine is an effective disinfectant, using chlorine alone creates byproducts that are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  These by-product levels can be significantly and cost-effectively reduced through the use of chloramine.  Also, chloramine has less odor (compared to chlorine), and remains in the distribution system longer to more effectively prevent bacterial growth.  As such, chloramine is a better long-term choice as a regular disinfectant.

Will I Notice a Difference in My Water?

During this time period, some customers may notice a slight change in the taste or odor of their tap water. Free chlorine may have more of a chemical odor, slightly like that of swimming pool water. Each individual customer has his or her own sensitivity level to the taste and/or odor of free chlorine.  Many detect no change at all.  The mild chlorine taste and odor is normal and poses no health risk.

Are Free Chlorine and Chloraminated Water Safe?

Yes, both form chlorine and chloramine are effective and safe for people and animals for drinking, cooking and bathing, as well as watering the garden and all other common uses.  However, precautions should be taken to remove or neutralize chloramine and free chlorine during the kidney dialysis process, in the preparation of water for fish tanks and ponds, and for businesses requiring highly processed water.  A de-chlorination procedure optimized for chloramine removal will work equally well with free chlorine.

People and businesses that normally take special precautions to remove chloramine from tap water (such as dialysis centers, medical facilities and aquatic pet owners) should continue to take the same precautions during the temporary switch from chloramine to free chlorine.

Most customers will not need to take any precautions as the water remains safe to drink and is treated according to both state and federal standards.

Kidney Dialysis: Just like chloramine, free chlorine must be removed from water used in kidney dialysis machines.  EWSU has contacted representatives from the medical community to inform them of this temporary conversion.  We advise customers who are dialysis patients to call their physicians or dialysis centers if there are any questions.

 Fish Owners: Like chloramine, free chlorine is toxic to fish.  Fish owners need to remove chlorine, ammonia and chloramine from the water before use with tropical fish. Local pet stores carry water conditioners that remove chloramine and free chlorine.  If customers have questions, we recommend contacting their pet store for information and detailed instructions.

 EWSU is committed to providing high-quality water and related services that meet all regulatory drinking water standards in a manner that prevents pollution, enhances the environment, and promotes sustainability.  If you need further information regarding this change, please contact the Utility water treatment facility at (812) 428-0568.   

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Superfund Redevelopment Initiative (SRI), launched in 1999 with the goal of returning formerly contaminated lands to long-term sustainable and productive reuse for communities across the country. Returning Superfund sites back to productive use has resulted in dramatic changes in communities by improving the quality of life, raising property values, and providing needed services to communities.

“Over the past 20 years, the Superfund Redevelopment Initiative has proven that incorporating reuse early in the process removes barriers to redevelopment and ensures that cleanup plans promote future economic and recreational opportunities,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “Thanks to SRI, hundreds of formerly contaminated sites have been transformed into hubs of economic, recreational, or residential activity. Promoting redevelopment and community revitalization is a top priority of this Administration and one of the key goals of the Agency’s Superfund Task Force.”

Before the agency’s Redevelopment Initiative, sites were cleaned up but not necessarily put back into productive use. By considering reuse early in the site cleanup process, the Redevelopment Initiative helps ensure that desired future uses are compatible with site cleanup remedies and removes barriers that could keep areas vacant or underused.

Depending on site conditions and community preferences, sites can be reused for a multitude of purposes, including commercial, recreational, ecological and residential uses. The Redevelopment Initiative has helped communities turn former lumberyards into parks, landfills into solar farms, former smelters into health clinics and gravel pits into baseball fields. EPA provides communities with points of contact, as well as case studies and best practices to help bring these projects to fruition.

Overall, approximately 1,000 Superfund sites are in reuse today–more than half the number of sites on Superfund’s National Priorities List. EPA has data on over 8,600 businesses at 529 of these sites. In fiscal year 2018 alone, these businesses generated $52.4 billion in sales, which is more than four times the amount EPA has spent at these sites. These businesses employed more than 195,000 people who earned a combined income of $13 billion. Over the last 7 years, these businesses generated at least $263 billion in sales.

Examples of how Superfund redevelopment has transformed communities include:

• Smelterville, Idaho: The Bunker Hill Mining & Metallurgical Complex in Smelterville, Idaho, is in one of the world’s largest historical mining districts. When the Bunker Hill lead smelter and several associated mines closed in the 1980s, the local economy nearly collapsed. EPA’s cleanup work has included removal of lead-contaminated soil and containment of mine tailings. This work paved the way for extensive reuse that includes a resort, residential and commercial development, a golf course, a ski area, and trails.
• Collinsville, Oklahoma: Following cleanup of the Tulsa Fuel and Manufacturing site, a former zinc smelter in Collinsville, Oklahoma, a honey production company has expanded its operations onto part of the site. The area is now home to six honeybee hives, with 16 hives planned for the near future. Clover planted during site restoration makes an ideal habitat for bees. Cleanup resulted in the transformation of this once-contaminated smelter property into restored ecological habitat, one well-suited to supporting the protection of bees and production of high-quality honey.
• Midvale City, Utah: In Midvale City, Utah, lead and copper smelters contaminated soil and groundwater with heavy metals. EPA worked with stakeholders to link the Midvale Slag site’s cleanup with redevelopment goals. Cleanup is now complete, and the site is home to a thriving mixed-use development that supports thousands of jobs. Businesses on site include an international engineering company, a healthcare services company, an e-commerce company and many retail businesses. The site is also home to more than 1,000 residences, a light rail station, a river walk and a park.
• Wobern, Massachusetts: Poor industrial practices led to the contamination of soil and groundwater at the Wells G&H site in Woburn, Massachusetts. Cleanup included removing and treating contaminated debris, soil and groundwater. Through a planning process funded through the Superfund program, the community worked with EPA to explore options for the site and develop a comprehensive reuse plan. Today, the site hosts an ice-skating rink, retail businesses, restaurants, hotels, and a natural area with hiking trails and recreation amenities.

Superfund redevelopment can also lead to energy independence. Today, 59 Superfund sites are home to alternative energy facilities. As of September 2018, these facilities provided enough energy to power about 95,000 homes. Wind, solar and landfill gas facilities make up about 92 percent of these projects. For example, a 7-megawatt solar farm at the Brick Township Landfill site in New Jersey powers all municipal buildings and community park facilities in the township. A solar array at the Continental Steel site in Kokomo, Indiana, provides enough energy to power 1,000 homes.

Over the last few years, as part of the Superfund Task Force work, EPA developed a nationwide list of Superfund National Priorities List sites with the greatest expected redevelopment potential. The list helps promote a renewed focus on accelerating work and progress at all Superfund sites while working to successfully return sites to productive use after cleanup is completed.

Today’s commemoration kicks off a series of events throughout the next 12 months recognizing Superfund’s achievements in revitalizing communities and protecting human health and the environment.

As part of the commemoration, EPA is releasing SRI’s 20th Anniversary Report: https://www.epa.gov/superfund-redevelopment-initiative/epa-celebrates-20-years-superfund-redevelopment.