In a rather tragic incident that occurred over a month ago, a Cedar City child care business found itself facing the loss of its license. On October 15th, a staff member using a lawn mower severed a child's toes while there were 14 kids present on the lawn, ranging in age from 18 months to 5 years. This unfortunate event led to the child requiring emergency surgery.
Rule Violations and Safety Concerns
The situation was rife with rule violations. The staff member mowing the lawn was not actively supervising the children, clearly demonstrating a failure to appropriately protect them from dangerous conduct. Additionally, sharp objects that could cut or puncture the skin were not kept inaccessible to the children. On the very day the child's toes were severed, there were several instances where only one staff member was with 13 children, when the regulation stipulates that there should always be at least one staff member for every eight children.During an October 18th inspection following the mowing incident, the facility was cited for another issue. After two infants fell asleep in bouncer chairs, they were placed in a separate room where they continued to sleep in the bouncers, even though child care regulations require that all infants sleep in equipment designed for sleep.License Termination and Future
The Utah Department of Health and Human Services notified Amber Chandara of Chandara Childcare via a November 21st letter that the business's license is being revoked for conduct "adverse to the standards required." The letter also states that the business failed to follow state administrative rules for noncompliance. The letter specifically stipulates that Chandara Childcare can only continue to operate until December 4th. As of now, Chandara has not immediately responded to requests for comment from The Salt Lake Tribune. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of strict safety measures and proper supervision in child care facilities. It highlights the need for continuous compliance with regulations to ensure the well-being of children in such settings.Impact on Families and the Community
Such an incident not only has a direct impact on the child and their family but also on the wider community. Parents entrust their children to these child care facilities with the expectation that their safety will be prioritized. When a license is revoked due to such a serious incident, it causes uncertainty and worry for other families who rely on these services. It also raises questions about the oversight and enforcement of child care regulations in the area. This event serves as a wake-up call for the entire child care industry to reevaluate and strengthen their safety protocols to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.READ MORE