Here Are 7 Common Injuries in Childcare Facilities
As a leading Orange County personal injury attorney team in Southern California, we’ve seen every type of accident imaginable, and few are as tragic as those involving children. If your child has been injured by a negligent caregiver, we may be able to help. Schedule a free consultation to learn more.
As a parent, your number one priority is keeping your child safe. Unfortunately, that can be easier said than done—especially when other caregivers are involved. 
But what other choice do you have? If you’re like most parents, you can’t afford to spend every day at home with your kids as much as you might want to. So you do the next best thing: Find the highest quality childcare you can afford and trust that your children will be safe. However, that’s not always what happens.
From nurseries to daycares to kids’ camps, childcare facilities can be dangerous places when improperly staffed and managed. Children can suffer an array of injuries ranging from minor to serious, and when they do, their negligent caregivers should be held accountable.
This article will detail seven of the most common injuries in childcare facilities, what causes them, and how an attorney from Case Barnett Law may be able to help you find justice through a child injury lawsuit.
No amount of money can undo the pain your child has experienced at the hands of a negligent caregiver. However, a settlement may help ease your financial burden as you guide your child through recovery. Call our law office at (949) 409-0055 to learn more.
1. Slips, Trips, and Falling Injuries
It’s not uncommon for kids—especially toddler-aged children—to take a tumble. Most of the time, it’s no one’s fault. However, in some cases, they slip, trip, or fall because of hazards in their environment, resulting in bone fractures, puncture wounds, and more.
It’s the responsibility of childcare facilities to guarantee the proper safety measures are in place to avoid these accidents. These precautions may include non-slip flooring, padded play areas, ramps in place of stairs, handrails, and, most importantly, vigilant supervision.
2. Playground Accidents
It’s no secret that children love playgrounds, and what’s not to love? Between the swings and monkey bars and slides, there’s nothing more exciting to most kids. However, those thrilling elements are the same ones that present significant dangers to under-supervised or unsupervised children.
That’s because kids are prone to taking risks, especially when they could lead to fun. They need an adult watching out for them, letting them know that going down the slide backward and headfirst isn’t a good idea and won’t end well. When caregivers fail to sufficiently supervise the children in their care, they put them at increased risk for sustaining a variety of playground injuries, including broken bones, puncture wounds, TBIs, and more.
3. Choking and Suffocation
Young children are notorious for exploring the world via taste. Left unsupervised, they may put pennies, legos—anything available, really—in their mouths to learn more about their surroundings. Although caregivers can’t necessarily curb this instinct, they can ensure a clean, safe environment by removing small objects that present choking hazards.
Similarly, caregivers of infants, toddlers, and small children must make absolutely certain that they abide by safety guidelines on age-appropriate toys, bedding materials, and safe sleep practices. Failure to do so may impose an increased risk of suffocation in some children, especially infants.
4. Burns from Hot Liquids/Surfaces
Childcare facilities typically house various heat-producing appliances and equipment, including stoves, microwaves, heaters, and bottle warmers. It’s critical that staff members take the appropriate steps to keep heat-producing objects away from children and employ childproofing whenever possible.
5. Allergic Reactions
In many childcare facilities and daycares, meals and snacks are shared among children. While convenient, this presents a major safety concern for children with severe allergies. It’s the responsibility of care centers and staff to request pertinent information for each child and stay well-informed about dietary restrictions and allergies. Accidental exposure to allergens such as peanuts can result in serious sickness, injury, and, in rare cases, death.
6. Accidental Impacts
In any environment where children are playing, there are bound to be collisions. It could be running into objects and furniture, other children, or even walls. These bumps can lead to injuries like cuts, bruises, and head injuries that range in severity. Although preventing accidental impacts altogether may be unachievable, maintaining a low child-to-staff ratio can help reduce the likelihood of a dangerous collision.
7. Poisoning
It’s not uncommon for small children to get colds and other viruses frequently—it’s just part of having an unseasoned immune system. As a result, it’s necessary for childcare facilities to clean frequently with antimicrobial products. The downside, however, is that many sanitizers and disinfectants contain potentially harmful chemicals that can cause serious sickness and injury when used in the wrong way or in the wrong amount.
Unsafe cleaning practices combined with natural curiosity can result in poisoning among young children and toddlers. Children are especially sensitive to cleaning chemicals and can become very sick by licking objects and surfaces, breathing in toxic fumes, or simply touching chemical-laden surfaces. In order to prevent poisoning, it’s essential that caregivers use cleaning products as directed, store them safely, and be prepared to call poison control if they suspect a child in their care has been poisoned.
