The recognition of non-accidental injury is critical for a pediatric trauma patient. In the year 2000, almost 3 million reports of child abuse were made to social service agencies. Forty-four percent of the fatalities were children younger than 1 year of age. Not only are these statistics alarming, but they point out the need for emergency department and trauma physicians and nurses to recognize non-accidental injury and aggressively protect the children who seek our medical expertise and protection.