Child Injury Lawyer Blog
By David Wolf – Child Injury Lawyer
In day care centers across the nation, parents rely on child care workers to provide a safe and nurturing educational environment for children. For most children, the day is filled with activities, classes, and all around excellent care. However, at some facilities, children are unfortunately the victim of abuse, neglect, and molestation. Some child care workers just lack the training, experience, common sense, and patience to properly supervise children. The local and state day care regulations should be followed. Beyond the rules and regulation, common sense can go a long way in the proper care of infants, toddlers, and young children.In most States, corporal punishment is outlawed or banned in day care centers. Some day care workers still implement corporal punishment measures to supervise and / or punish children under their care. Corporal punishment is typically refers to some form of physical punishment, assault, or restraint of a child. It should be noted that many religious based day care centers are exempt from local and state day care regulations. As such, corporal punishment tends to be utilized on a regular basis in some exempt facilities. It should also be noted that if a child is injured as a result of corporal punishment to the point the marks are left or medical care is required – there can still be action taken against the day care center even if the day care center is exempt from the applicable child care rules and regulations.
In Missouri and other States, there are dangers in virtually every community in the form of old buildings and old building codes. In Springfield, Missouri and other cities, many buildings are not subject to current building codes. Some of the newer codes require stricter regulations as to the construction and security in and around windows. This can be especially dangerous for children living in or visiting multi-story townhouses, homes, apartment complexes, and commercial buildings. With older codes, there are less restrictions as to window barriers and screens. This, in turn, can present a danger to children. It was reported in Springfield, Missouri recently that a 4 year old fell put of a third floor window and tragically died from the fall related personal injuries. See 
Churches and schools should be safe havens for children to learn and grow. Unfortunately, children are sometimes targeted by teachers, volunteers, and other adults who meet children at the church or school. For the most part, churches and schols are safe havens filled with staff member and volunteers who properly supervise and care for the children. There are some “bad apples” out there who use their position of trust and power to improperly take advantage of the very children under their supervision. Many predators get away with this horrid acts while others get caught before their master plans hatch into a harmful act against the vulnerable child.
In Kansas City, Missouri and in every community in the United States, there is one common dangerous place in most homes and apartments – the bathtub. Unfortunately and tragically, children continue to be victims of drownings in bathtubs. Just a few moments of inattention or lack of supervision can have deadly consequences. It is vital that a smal child be supervised at all times while in the bathtub – don’t take that phone call and don’t multi-task by cooking and doing other activities while a child is bathing in a bathtub. In addition, never leave water in an unattended bathtub before or after a child’s bath time. In Kansas City, Missouri, police are investigating the death of a toddler – 18 month old Jermane Johnson, Jr. At the time of the incident, Jermane was staying with relatives. It was reported that a 16 year old (mentally handicapped) was babysitting the children on the day of the incident but was sleeping at the time that that the drowning incident took place. It is suspected by police officials that another child (5 years old) may have drowned the toddler because the toddler was crying too much. Due to the age of the 5 year old and the circumstance involved in the incident, it is uncertain how the case will be handled. Since the 5 year old is so young, it would be difficult to prove that she understood the magnitude and seriousness of her actions. See 
Outside of St. Louis Missouri, a horrible bus accident was reported that involved two school buses, a semi truck, and a SUV. Tragically, two people died as a result of this bus / semi tractor / SUV accident and many others including a number of children were injured as a result of this accident. A full investigation will be conducted by State and Local authorities to determine the cause of the accident and what measures could have been taken to avoid the accident and related personal injuries.
The United States Department of Health and Human Resources has a website that has a great reference tool for parents and caregivers with children in day care centers and child care centers. Each state regulates day care centers / child care centers through a state specific administrative code and / or policy manual. Go to