Daycares and health department violations

Thu Jun 07, 2012 7:43 pm

A local daycare took 15 kids to the movies with 4 adults for a field trip. They ended up leaving one of their participants, a 3 year old, at the theater and the rest of them went back to the center.

The news reported this and told people you could look up your daycares health department citations online. They listed off a few of the "dangerous" citations they received. A few weren't good, like not plugging outlets and excessive wear and tear on some equipment. But then they said one dangerous violation was that several children didn't have a physical on file.

As a parent, would a few other kids not having a physical bother you? Would this indicate to you that a center is unsafe? Why?

Mommy to twins
http://ifashley.blogspot.com
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Thu Jun 07, 2012 8:31 pm

I could care less if kids don't have a physical on file. Sometimes places are cited for such stupid things. Outlets being or not being covered is a non-concern for me. Even at our daycare.

A couple of summers ago the youngest kids at my sons daycare were almost 4. I was dropping ds off when her teenaged son came out of the front bathroom and said "Mom, I broke this." & held up the child lock for the bathroom cabinet. So, she went in the bathroom, emptied the cabinet of everything (including her daughters brushes and clips) and said "Well, I'll get a new one tonight." She happened to get inspected that day & was given a citation for not having a lock ON AN EMPTY CABINET!!! Now, I was there, I saw what happened. I saw her empty the cabinet. That, to me, is bs. Another time, and this was before my son was there, she got sited for not having a cover on an outlet. That her daughter had unplugged the vacuum in front of the inspecting person. Her daughter unplugged the vacuum, put it away & a child started crying. So, since T was talking to the inspector, her daughter went to pick up the child first. And yes, got cited for it. Another time she was cited because her daughter was doing the dishes while the kids napped & didn't put the child lock back on the cabinet after taking the soap out. Keep in mind, kids sleeping, she was standing in front of said cabinet.

Needless to say, I take citations with a grain of salt.

Thu Jun 07, 2012 8:35 pm

Something like that wouldn't bother me unless it appeared over and over. It sounds like more of an administrative problem or something the parents may have been slow in providing. I try to use common sense when I look up the inspection records of daycares and preschools. The preschool my daughter is in right now has 1 warning on file because of teacher/student ratios. But because I am on the executive of the school I know that the inspector showed up at the exact wrong minute of the day - a field trip day where they had combined both classes into one room to get the kids yellow shirts on while another teacher stepped out to check if the bus was there. But rules are rules so it's on there now. So something that appears once or isn't something that I feel is very serious I tend to not worry about. Anything I see about inappropriate disciplining or lacking security checks for staff, or dirty facilities etc would have me pulling my kid out immediately.

 

Fri Jun 08, 2012 2:51 pm

Im torn, while Id like to know if the center isnt dangerous, I dont want to know of every careless thing they've done (or not done). Im not a stickler about much, and Im certain that if my home were a day care center, I would have been shut down LONG ago. No outlet covers, unblocked stairs, unlocked cabinets, weapons and drugs... OK, maybe not the last things, but how would they know under the mound of laundry threatening to over take the house? Anyway, I digress... my main concern when it comes to child care is love/care/trust, then safety. I understand that accidents happen, and are unlikely to happen again (I mean really, how many times in a decade will they leave a child behind on a field trip? Not many.) so I would be more forgiving in some areas, than others.

Fri Jun 08, 2012 4:13 pm

I do like to make sure that there are not major violations, like teacher student ratios, health records for other children, safe and healthy environment.

Some of the violations that one of the pp posters mentioned, would not sit well with me. I know that in some of the cases, not much could be done at the immediate moment. The daughter picking up the child, would bother me. Because if she naturally did it then, it is obviously not the first time something like that happened. And to be honest is one of the main reasons I would not choose an in-home daycare where I knew there were older children of the provider still in the home. Just my personal choice.

Sat Jun 09, 2012 12:25 am

If a daycare had too many little violations, that would bother me because that would tell me that they're too lax in the day-to-day. My own home isn't baby-proof even though I have a 7 year old and 10 month old, but I'm also operating at a 2:1 ratio, so each child gets a fair share of my attention. I will definitely baby-proof better once dd is mobile, but I wouldn't be comfortable with my own home environment as a daycare setting. And IA that I personally don't feel comfortable with older children of the daycare provider tending to the smaller children. I likely wouldn't want a provider with her own children or grandchildren in the facility to begin with, but if I'm paying a certified, adult provider to take care of my child, that's who I want taking care of my child. I'm quite skittish of daycares given things I witnessed while working in one, though, and because of a horrible experience my sister had with one.

BTW, what was the outcome of the child left behind? I assume he or she was found safe and returned home?

3 angels, Ashley, Elijah's twin Alison, and Baby October.

Sat Jun 09, 2012 1:38 am

I do like to make sure that there are not major violations, like teacher student ratios, health records for other children, safe and healthy environment.

Some of the violations that one of the pp posters mentioned, would not sit well with me. I know that in some of the cases, not much could be done at the immediate moment. The daughter picking up the child, would bother me. Because if she naturally did it then, it is obviously not the first time something like that happened. And to be honest is one of the main reasons I would not choose an in-home daycare where I knew there were older children of the provider still in the home. Just my personal choice.

In the case of the daughter picking up the child, she was 19 & an employee of the daycare.

Sat Jun 09, 2012 11:46 am

Yes, she was found and returned home.

I was just asking because that seems very nit picky IMO that a person would find a care facility dangerous because some children didn't have a physical on file. Things that would cause other children harm, like anger management issues, aren't reported on a physical form. Also, parents turn those in and f I don't have one at my site I have usually asked a parent 90 times for it. This facility not having physicals on file for a few participants should not indicate to anyone that they might leave a 3 year old in the bathroom at the movie theater. That seems like common sense.

Mommy to twins
http://ifashley.blogspot.com
[/url

Sun Jun 10, 2012 3:12 pm

I do like to make sure that there are not major violations, like teacher student ratios, health records for other children, safe and healthy environment.

Some of the violations that one of the pp posters mentioned, would not sit well with me. I know that in some of the cases, not much could be done at the immediate moment. The daughter picking up the child, would bother me. Because if she naturally did it then, it is obviously not the first time something like that happened. And to be honest is one of the main reasons I would not choose an in-home daycare where I knew there were older children of the provider still in the home. Just my personal choice.

In the case of the daughter picking up the child, she was 19 & an employee of the daycare.

How odd. Why did they site her for another employee picking up a child?

Sun Jun 10, 2012 5:06 pm

I do like to make sure that there are not major violations, like teacher student ratios, health records for other children, safe and healthy environment.

Some of the violations that one of the pp posters mentioned, would not sit well with me. I know that in some of the cases, not much could be done at the immediate moment. The daughter picking up the child, would bother me. Because if she naturally did it then, it is obviously not the first time something like that happened. And to be honest is one of the main reasons I would not choose an in-home daycare where I knew there were older children of the provider still in the home. Just my personal choice.

In the case of the daughter picking up the child, she was 19 & an employee of the daycare.

How odd. Why did they site her for another employee picking up a child?

Because she didn't cover the outlet first. She was vacuuming and picked the child up instead of covering the outlet.

Sun Jun 10, 2012 11:51 pm

I do like to make sure that there are not major violations, like teacher student ratios, health records for other children, safe and healthy environment.

Some of the violations that one of the pp posters mentioned, would not sit well with me. I know that in some of the cases, not much could be done at the immediate moment. The daughter picking up the child, would bother me. Because if she naturally did it then, it is obviously not the first time something like that happened. And to be honest is one of the main reasons I would not choose an in-home daycare where I knew there were older children of the provider still in the home. Just my personal choice.

In the case of the daughter picking up the child, she was 19 & an employee of the daycare.

How odd. Why did they site her for another employee picking up a child?

Because she didn't cover the outlet first. She was vacuuming and picked the child up instead of covering the outlet.

^^^This. She unplugged the vacuum, and the child started to cry. She then picked up the child, sat down to comfort said child and didn't put the outlet cover back in until crying child was calmed. That is what she was sited for. The outlet being uncovered for less than 5 minutes while a child was being comforted.

Tue Jun 12, 2012 6:21 pm

^^^This. She unplugged the vacuum, and the child started to cry. She then picked up the child, sat down to comfort said child and didn't put the outlet cover back in until crying child was calmed. That is what she was sited for. The outlet being uncovered for less than 5 minutes while a child was being comforted.

Tears are a conductor. She could have gotten electrocuted!

Tue Jun 12, 2012 6:40 pm

^^^This. She unplugged the vacuum, and the child started to cry. She then picked up the child, sat down to comfort said child and didn't put the outlet cover back in until crying child was calmed. That is what she was sited for. The outlet being uncovered for less than 5 minutes while a child was being comforted.

Tears are a conductor. She could have gotten electrocuted!

Ah, crap! I should have been electrocuted years ago then!

Fri Jun 15, 2012 11:35 am

I prefer my daycare to be up to code in all aspects of their inspections. I understand that some of the rules may be excessive, but I think a daycare that slacks on some minor things shows potential to slack on other more serious codes as well. I want someone who is diligent in all aspects and up to code in all areas (no matter how minor) so that I know that they take the code seriously. Every daycare should have someone in charge that keeps things running smoothly and efficiently and if they are getting code violations that tells me that there may be a lack of attention to detail which is not something I take lightly when it comes to the care of my baby.

I assume all day cares have rules on vaccination of their students so I think a physical on file is important to be sure that all of the children in attendance are in compliance with the healthcare regulations. Call me strict, but when I am shelling out a small fortune for childcare then the place better be running like a well oiled machine!

Fri Jun 15, 2012 12:52 pm

I prefer my daycare to be up to code in all aspects of their inspections. I understand that some of the rules may be excessive, but I think a daycare that slacks on some minor things shows potential to slack on other more serious codes as well. I want someone who is diligent in all aspects and up to code in all areas (no matter how minor) so that I know that they take the code seriously. Every daycare should have someone in charge that keeps things running smoothly and efficiently and if they are getting code violations that tells me that there may be a lack of attention to detail which is not something I take lightly when it comes to the care of my baby.

I assume all day cares have rules on vaccination of their students so I think a physical on file is important to be sure that all of the children in attendance are in compliance with the healthcare regulations. Call me strict, but when I am shelling out a small fortune for childcare then the place better be running like a well oiled machine!

Immunizations are reported separately than what you find on a physical form. Also, if there are unimmunized children in a daycare facility due to religious exemption you would never know because that's not a violation.

Mommy to twins
http://ifashley.blogspot.com
[/url

Fri Jun 15, 2012 2:51 pm

[quote=Immunizations are reported separately than what you find on a physical form. Also, if there are unimmunized children in a daycare facility due to religious exemption you would never know because that's not a violation.[/quote]

Irregardless, if it is in the code that there should be physical on file then I expect my daycare to have a physical for every child. Blaming forgetful parents is not a good enough reason for me. Do I see it has majorly harmful for my child? No Do I see it as a potential reason for concern when it comes to the management of the daycare? Yes.

Fri Jun 15, 2012 3:09 pm

[quote=Immunizations are reported separately than what you find on a physical form. Also, if there are unimmunized children in a daycare facility due to religious exemption you would never know because that's not a violation.

Irregardless, if it is in the code that there should be physical on file then I expect my daycare to have a physical for every child. Blaming forgetful parents is not a good enough reason for me. Do I see it has majorly harmful for my child? No Do I see it as a potential reason for concern when it comes to the management of the daycare? Yes.[/quote]

Having worked with far too many inconsiderate people in my day, I would be inclined to accept "forgetful parents" as an excuse. For some parents, the only motivation to follow through with their own responsibility would be the threat of expulsion from the center if they can't provide a physical and, even then, the center would have to make good on their threat, which can be a difficult thing to lose revenue over.

3 angels, Ashley, Elijah's twin Alison, and Baby October.

Tue Nov 13, 2012 9:27 pm

To be quite honest I would never take my child to a day care, if at all possible...it just makes me uncomfortable. I've always felt better about having a nanny (that I can trust!) I've found agencies (East wind nannies is an awesome one!) to be irreplaceable in the process because they not only took the stress out of the nanny search, but they provide accountability for that nanny.