Each day millions of parents around the nation entrust a childcare provider with taking care of one of more of their children. Although “kids will be kids” when an accident occurs and a child is injured, is the daycare provider to blame?
According to the United States Census Bureau in 2011 there were approximately 32.7 million children in child care arrangements with approximately 25% in organized facilities. Additionally Child Care Aware® of America notes that approximately 10.9 million children under the age of five are in child care, 26% of which are in child care services.
In Georgia, an estimated 3,839 family child care centers are available throughout the state, 552 of which are actual child care programs.
Accidents at daycare happen and some could even lead to an emergency room visit. A 2010 National Hospital Ambulatory Care Survey indicates that approximately 13.6 million children under the age of 5 visited the emergency room for medical treatment.
Causes of Daycare Accidents
Although there are a large number of children in daycare centers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 1.2 million childcare workers in the United States meaning that there are ten times more children than workers in such facilities. Insufficient personnel could lead to child negligence and day care accidents.
Some other causes of daycare accidents include:
- Untrained or Poorly Trained Staff
- Failing to Read Child’s Medical Needs
- Distracted Workers (Staff on cellphones, fraternizing, etc.)
- Faulty Equipment (Cribs, playground equipment)
- Roughhousing
- Unsanitary Conditions
- Unsafe Toys
- Facilities Not “Baby-Proof”
It is important that all daycare facilities keep the area children are in safe from harm meaning carefully locking up cleaning chemicals, kitchenware, and other dangerous objects. Room fixtures should also be as best “child-proofed” as possible as well.
Daycare Accident Injuries
Parents and most adults are aware that children can get into just about anything which means that the simplest items such as a pencil or pen can be dangerous. Failing to watch over a child, or staff that has not been properly trained to handle children can lead to a number of dangerous scenarios.
Some common daycare accident injuries include (but are not limited to):
- Allergic Reactions
- Poisonings
- Asphyxia
- Bumps & Bruises
- Broken Bones
- Brain Injuries
- Loss of Teeth
- Concussion
- Eye Injuries
Due to bones that are still developing, children are much more susceptible to breaking a bone when they fall out of a crib, off a playground, or off of a changing table.
It is important that parents who are placing their child’s well-being in the hands of others make note of any changes in behavior, bumps or bruises, and other signs of injuries as it could strengthen their claim against the negligent party that caused the child’s injuries.