Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - March 18, 1996, Winnipeg, Manitoba Parents take drugs and children die a deadly cocktail for innocent kids Winni by Allison Bray staff reporter Herb executive director of the addictions foundation of says drugs and parenting can be a lethal if you have an alcohol or drug looking after your Chil Dren becomes a second one of the hazards of alcohol and drug abuse is the family system Breaks he said the foun Dation receives a significant num ber of referrals from child and family services in which children have been or Are at risk of being apprehended due to parental drug or alcohol of 219 children who died in Manitoba last 57 were involved with child and family of 31 died of natural causes compared to 26 of no natural such As accidents or drown in 302 Manitoba children including 33 of no natural causes despite intervention by child and family a Sample of autopsy reports from 1994 and 1995 of children whose families were involved with cos found its not an uncommon the cause of death is often attributed to other such As sudden infant death syndrome or the result of a fire or motor vehicle the following Are some exam Ples culled from medical examiners files a Twoy Earold living on Atlantic Avenue died at about june after being thrown through the Back window of a car and run Over by the vehicle when the Mother lost control at the according to the 32year old who pleaded guilty to driving was driving 127 Kwh in a 100 Kwh and had not strapped the toddler into the child restraint police said officers at the scene smelled liquor on the mothers but did not have sufficient evidence to charge her with impaired a five Montgold boy living on Beverley Street died july the cause of death was listed As according to the autopsy he was put in the same bed As his 300pound father and his both of whom were into kids Markesteyn a1 Ica Ted at the the child was Well when he was last seen at 11 when he was fed and put to sleep on his next to his the Mother continued drinking until she found the baby Blue and not breathing at 4 resuscitation attempts were not a Onemo Thold boy living on Manitoba Avenue died after being left with a 37yearold Friend of the mothers common Law husband while she went out drink he was found unresponsive by Mother when she came the cause of death was listed As a two Mont hold boy living on Stella Avenue died he want breathing when his Mother found him at about 5 the who has a history of Intra venous drug abuse and used in drugs until she was five months had fallen asleep sitting next to the infant on a she attempted to revive the infant by holding him by his feet and shaking the cause of death was listed As while there remains no scientific explanation for its widely known that infants can smother easily if their breathing is Cut off As a result of being squashed up against an Blanket or an intoxicated Parent can Roll on top of a child without noticing and is also less Likely to awaken should the child Start choking or Stop were not always sure intoxication is the but its a risk said chief medical exam Iner Peter Markesteyn said he will be lobbying family ser vices minister Bonnie Mitchelson to include parental intoxication As a serious risk Factor that would justify having a child seized by Protection workers when her department makes changes to the child and family services act later this what we really need is Teeth in the child and family services act to show that this is a recognizable he this is the time to do As Markesteyn said he is also concerned about the High number of children who die despite previous or ongoing involvement with Many of the families whose Chil Dren die accidentally due to intoxication or Lack of adequate super vision have histories of by Sunc and he said the fact that cos has been involved raises questions about How carefully these families Are being there Are judgment Calls and they Are not always called Cor he cos director Keith Cooper said while neglect of a child due to Alco holism can be used As a reason for apprehending alcoholism or parental intoxication by itself is not sufficient grounds to apprehend a As he said child Protection agencies Are hesitant to remove children from Homes if there Are workable such As build ing in parenting supports or get Ting parents to undergo but even for those parents whose children have been removed from the Home while they Complete an alcohol or drug rehabilitation pro there Are no guarantees the Parent wont relapse once the Chil Dren have been returned Cooper i dont know what the answer is As far As mechanisms to Deal with the he but it starts from a Basic value system in our i have to demonstrate knowledge and skill to drive a but i have the god Given right to be a without any knowledge or unless theres some demonstrated As part of her 1995 thesis exam ining risk factors associated with fatal child Jan a social worker with the chief medical examiners found that not much has changed Over the centuries when it comes to the abuse and neglect related deaths of coroners records from 1623 in England reveal that children were overlaid and starved at they died of Burns and scalds or drowned in Ponds and pans of Chris Tian Onwood examination of similar files today reveals that children continue to drown in buckets of water and Toi they also die because their parents Are too intoxicated to take care of them or fail to supervise them in a responsible she police Hope composite sketch will help catch City mugger there was no sign this weekend of a serial mugger who has attacked at least 14 elderly people in the City a Winnipeg police services spokesman said last an elderly couple beaten and robbed Friday were the latest Vic of a Man police believe is attacking and robbing mainly older men in the downtown police Hope a composite sketch of the suspect will help in making an it should be ready today or wrinkles lip lines acne scars facial veins dermatology laser Centre Earl Minuk dermatologist 918233 Kennedy Winnipeg Call 9577242 for laser treatment said acting duty Dennis Sheardown he said the artist drawing the sketch still has to get information from All the i dont think Hes gotten that far said police will be stepping up efforts to locate the serial mugger this Sheardown although he say exactly what the Strat egy will were going to be making a Spe Cial Effort very of Tim pocket Stur pagers from ton voice a Beeper can Savo time and time again i beep in touch now at 639 Portage at Sherbrook 7843160 i free with this and i absolutely fantastic ski trails right on the property and outrageously Good food rates incl i use o Sauna and outdoor not breakfast and the fabulous Gunn Lake dinner 807 2242321 Yamaha music Centre used pianos Large selection grands am Amaha music Centre 1330 Portage 7862461 Jeff can Spring be far behind a photographer gets a Bead on one of the Many varieties of orchids at the Manitoba Orchid society annual show at the Assiniboine Park conservatory this March a5 armed teens Rob Chicken Delight police Are on the Lookout for a pair of teenagers who robbed a Chicken takeout shop this a Winnipeg police service spokesman said the one armed with a demanded and got some Cash at the Chicken Delight at 453 Regent about no one was one of the robbers was described As 16 to about with a big nose and pimples on the right Side of his and wearing a dark Pullover Blue jeans and Blue the other is also 16 to about 5 with pimples on his nose and wearing a los Angeles Kings jacket and White highways closed heading Ley ramp advised motorists to stay off the Tran Canada Highway and other highways in that area yesterday afternoon because of blow ing Snow and icy Road a heading Ley ramp spokesman said a few vehicles turned Over but no one was a Kenora Ontario provincial police spokesman said highways in that area were closed from mid night saturday until about noon yesterday because of poor Road conditions caused by but that no serious traffic mishaps were 1995 Achieva 10 to choose from As Low As j 1995 Cutlass supreme 4 12 to choose As Low As Manitoba largest Chev Olds Cadillac dealer 1995 Lumina Sedan dual Abs Premium sound split overdrive hours a inv Juko Home of the big buy 1400 Mcphillips 6971400 outside Winnipeg 18004651400 questions about the Federal budget budget 1996 hotline for More Call from monday to 8 to 10 department of finance minister Des finances Canada Canada 1 8003438282 add 18004657735 ;