It is good practice to ask the child about the cause of any injuries and to allow them to talk if they volunteer information about abuse. You should avoid asking leading questions and should respond calmly and kindly with a non-judgmental attitude. A child who makes a disclosure of abuse should always be taken seriously. If requested to keep a secret, you should not do so but should explain that you may have to share information, but will explain with whom and when it will be shared.