Child Injuries in Daycare Centers & Child Care Facilities
Hard working parents must rely on daycare centers and childcare facilities to provide out-of-home care for infants and young children. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly 13 million infants, toddlers, and preschool children are enrolled in child daycare centers across the nation.
Parents must be vigilant in choosing and monitoring a daycare or childcare facility, however, as unintentional injuries to children in these settings can be serious or even fatal. Annually, over 31,000 children between 1 and 4 years old are treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms for injuries occurring in daycare or childcare settings.
Injury Hazards to Preschool Children
Children in daycare or childcare facilities can be injured by visibly obvious hazards, such as playground surfacing that has worn thin or is littered with dangerous debris. Other hazards to children in daycare facilities may be hidden, like easily reachable window blind cords or drawstrings on children's clothing, which can cause choking or strangulation to unsupervised children.
Parents should inspect their child’s daycare center or childcare facility regularly to ensure the following safety measures are being met and maintained:
- Playground equipment is functioning properly and surfaces are free of defects;
- Storage cupboards containing cleaning supplies, medicines and other toxic substances are safety-latched;
- Stairwells are closed off with properly installed gates;
- Knives, razors, matches and other dangerous objects are out of the reach of the children;
- Furniture and equipment are free of splinters, rusty nails and lead paint;
- The center or home is free of dangling window blind cords with loops;
- Recalled children's products such as toys, cribs, and beanbag furniture, should be removed and recall notices posted and monitored;
- Cribs, high chairs, and playpens should meet current safety standards.
Proper Daycare Supervision and Licensing
Daycare centers and childcare facilities are highly regulated to protect children. Parents should be familiar with the local regulations regarding childcare facilities and should ensure that their children are properly supervised in the daycare center or childcare facility of choice, and that the facility maintains the proper staff/child ratio as mandated by the local law.
Most daycare providers are extremely safety conscious and welcome a parent's inquiries and inspection. Parents should be concerned if a facility refuses to let a parent inspect the premises for safety concerns or fails to rectify any concerns after repeated requests by the parent to do so. Under those circumstances, parents should report the facility to the local licensing board and seek alternative care for their children.
Childcare and Daycare Injury Lawyers
If your child has been seriously or fatally injured in an accident at a daycare center or childcare facility, the facility may be liable for damages for failure to properly maintain the facility or for failure to comply with local licensing regulations. Contact a Childcare Injury Attorney to seek counsel and for the compensation to which you and your family are entitled for your child’s injury and tragic loss.
