Daycare and Childcare Center Injuries

Daycare Centers and Childcare Centers provide an invaluable service to parents. Daycare and childcare centers provide supervision, nurturing, protection, socialization and early education for children while parents are working. When parents entrust their children to a daycare, they expect that their child's health and safety is constantly monitored and controlled.

While states have laws and regulations for daycare facilities, they vary dramatically in scope and in enforcement. Tragically, accidents happen as the result of negligence and oversight, and children become the victims.

While many childcare and daycare facilities have flawless records in safety, there are also childcare centers and daycares that are deficient in providing a safe and secure environment.

Some of the safety hazards that result in daycare accidents include:

• Failure to supervise children
• Lack of training or knowledge of first aid for medical emergencies
• Mental and physical child abuse
• Sexual battery or assault
• Unsafe or unsanitary food conditions
• Failure to secure the premises
• Unsafe or recalled equipment
• Failure to make repairs or properly maintain the facility
• Dangerous playground equipment and grounds
• Choking hazards
• Unclean environment

Daycare and childcare workers are hired and paid to perform the duties necessary to care for children and provide a safe environment. If workers violate these duties, then they need to be held accountable for their actions. Workers should be trained in pediatric first aid, including rescue breathing and choking procedures.

In accordance with the "Shaken Baby Bill" in Kentucky, daycare workers are also trained to recognize and prevent traumatic head injuries that are associated with shaken baby syndrome. Workers should also be carefully screened and subject to background checks to guarantee that your child is in safe hands.

Injuries can also occur as the result of unsafe products and equipment in daycare and childcare centers. Examples of such hazards are:

• Unsafe playground equipment and surfaces
• Recalled or poorly maintained cribs
• Failure to use child safety gates
• Window blind cords
• Unsafe bedding
• Failure to secure cleaning products
• Unsafe window guards
• Failure to cover electric outlets
• Failure to keep toys and surfaces clean

The health and well-being of a child is foremost in a parent's mind. It is important that the daycare or childcare center also share these concerns. When a Kentucky childcare provider or Kentucky Daycare fails to provide a safe environment and an accident happens, it is important to understand the procedures you can take to hold the daycare center accountable.

If your child has been the victim of such an accident, you can contact the law office of Brett H. Oppenheimer, PLLC by sending him a message online or by calling (502) 242-8877. He can assist you in evaluating your allegations and handling the legal processes while you focus on your child's recovery.