Child Injury Lawyer Blog
By Joni J. Franklin, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
In Kansas and other States, parents rely on day care centers to provide care and supervision of their children during the work day. In most instances, the children are cared for in a safe, clean, and loving environment. At the end of the work day, the parents pick up their children from the day care center and enjoy the rest of the evening with family. Unfortunately, on some days for some children, the day is not so enjoyable. In fact, some children even suffer serious personal injuries while under the care and supervision of a Kansas day care center. In some instances, tragedy strikes and a child dies while enrolled in a day care center. What starts out as an ordinary day for the parents, day care center, and child ends in tragedy.
In Mississippi and other States, day care centers and their staff members have a duty to provide a safe and clean educational environement for the children enrolled in the program. Many day care centers have childre fromn infants to school aged children enrolled in the same day care program. When children of different ages and sizes are grouped into the same day care center and in the same areas of the day care center, the smaller and younger children can be put a risk of injury from the acts and aggressions of the larger and older children. Under these circumstances, it is vital that the day care center provide timely and consistent supervision of the children. School aged child often times lack good judgment and temperament around infants and toddlers. Because of this, it makes even more important to have constant supervision to protect the younger children enrolled in the day care program.
In Texas and other States, day care centers have the duty to provide timely and consistent supervision of children enrolled in the day care problem. The day care center and staff should properly monitor and account for the children during activities inside the facility, outside the faciliuty, and during field trips. The transportation of children enrolled in Texas day care centers and summer camps can lead to serious personal injuries if there is careless driving on the part of the day care center van driver or other drivers on the roadway. Transporation can also involve the risks of children left behind in the van especially during the sweltering heat of summer. Tragically, a number of children have died as a result of being left behind in a day care center van or school bus. Many day care care center employees, owners, and administrators do not realize the risks associated with leaving a child unattended in a hot vehicle even for just a few minutes. While there are van and bus alarms that can be installed to remind the driver and attendant to clear out the van or bus, there is also a simple process or procedure that can be and should be used during each and every list. It is called a checklist. The use and consistent completion of a checklist can and does save lives. Each child transported on the field trip should be on the list. Roll call should be taken when the bus or van stops at its location. Thereafter, another roll call should be completed when all of the children have exited the van or bus. In addition, it makes sense as a safety precaution for the driver and an attendant (if available) to each do a visual sweep of the entire van and bus at all stops and destinations.
In Kentucky and other States, parents rely on day care centers to provide a safe facility and diligent supervision of their children during the work day. Furthermore, a day care center should provide safe transportation which should include a trained driver and a well maintained day care center van or bus. Unfortunately, children are injured in Kentucky and other States when there is a day care center van or bus accident. When a child suffers injuries as a result of a day care center van or bus accident, there are often times many complex issues and challenges faced by the injured child and his parents. Because of this, it is often helpful to consult with a 
In homes, schools, and day care centers, children are at risk for serious personal injuries from an object present in every building – the door or door way. The National Safety Council estimates that there are 300,000 finger injuries from doors every year. Of these incidents, there are 26,000 finger amputations or fractures. Many of these injury victims are children. A serious finger injury can be permanent in nature and affect the injured person for a lifetime.
Many parents and child care providers do not realize that there is a risk of injury to infants and small children in most homes and day care centers. In particular, children are at risk for injuries while using stairs and when being carried up or down stairs in homes, day care centers, and other locations. Nationwide Children’s Hospital based in Columbus, Ohio conducted research as to the statistics and incidents of children suffering injuries staircase related injuries. It was reported that approximately 25 % of the injuries to children under the age of 1 took place while the child was being carried by a parent or child care provider. The study was reported in the medical journal – Pediatrics. It was estimated that over 50,000 children were treated during a 10 year time period for injuries suffered by a child when an adult lost his or her balance. The injuries to many children where aggravated when the adult fell on top of the child being held. Most of these stair related injuries took place in the child’s own home.
In Illinois and other States, day care centers and child care centers have a duty to provide reasonable and timely supervision of the children under the care of the facility. When a day care center transports the children on field trips including those excursions to water parks, swimming pools, and other aquatic centers. At most swimming pools, water parks, and aquatic centers, there are typically trained lifeguards in place. For schools and day care centers, the question then arises as to the level of supervision and involvement that the day care center employees should have at the swimming pool and aquatic center when there are lifeguards already in place.
Children should be provided with a safe and clean educational environment while under the care of a day care center. Many day care facilities provide such an environment for children. Others, however, fail to meet their obligations. Unfortunately and tragically, children are sometimes the victims of the bad acts and conduct of family members of the day care center owner. This often times takes place in a home day care center. While background checks and training are checked for employees, family members often go under the radar of the owner and the State licensing agencies.