• Violation

  R 400.8125 · R 400.8125 Staff; volunteer; requirements. (1) All staff and volunteers shall provide appropriate care and supervision of children at all times.

  I received an incident report from licensee designee/program director Sandra Hanson on 7/24/2023. The incident report stated that Child A went down the slide backwards and fell head first onto the ground. No one was at the bottom of the slide to catch her. I spoke on the telephone with Sandra Hanson on 7/24/2023. She informed me that Child A was using the slide correctly, however, got turned around on her way down. Sandra Hanson disclosed that all children in the toddler classroom use the outdoor play structure. While on the telephone, I reviewed the center's playground inspection certification summary completed by certified playground inspector Alex Dekker from Great Lakes Recreation Company dated 12/1/2020. I notified Sandra Hanson that the play structure used by Child A was approved for children ages two through twelve and that the incident would be opened for investigation. Sandra Hanson stated that she had no idea that the structure was not approved for one year old children. Sandra Hanson was informed by the previous owner that the play structure was approved for one-year olds and admitted that she never reviewed the inspection herself. I made an unscheduled onsite inspection at Lakeside Learning Centers on 7/25/2023 and spoke with Sandra Hanson, Child Care Staff Member 1 (CCSM1), Child Care Staff Member 2 (CCSM2) and Child Care Staff Member 3 (CCSM3). Sandra Hanson informed me that Child A stayed home today but did not receive treatment or a medical diagnosis. CCSM1 is a lead caregiver in the preschool classroom. She was on the playground with the preschool and toddler classrooms on 7/24/2023 and witnessed Child A's fall. Child A was going down the slide on her bottom facing forward. She was holding the railing and somehow got turned around. Child A was going pretty fast and fell backwards off the slide onto the ground. According to CCSM1, staff members of the toddler classroom were standing near the gate at the time of the accident. There were no staff members standing near the structure or supervising children going down the slide. CCSM2 works in the toddler classroom and was on the playground at the time of the accident. CCSM2 was supervising a biter near the gate. She did not see Child A 3 fall and was not sure where the other staff members were positioned or if anyone was supervising children playing on the climbing structure. CCSM3 is the lead caregiver in the toddler classroom and was also outside at the time of the accident. CCSM3 took me outside to look at the play area. The fenced play area has one climbing structure located over mulch. Also inside the fenced play area is a play house, water table, picnic tables and riding toys. CCSM3 stated that she was standing in one corner supervising children in the play house. CCSM2 was standing in the other corner near the gate. CCSM1 and Child A's Mother (who is also a staff member in the preschool classroom) were supervising children playing on the climbing structure. On 7/26/2023, program director Mariah Rogers emailed me the attendance records for 7/24/2023. There were thirteen toddlers and preschoolers with four staff members on the playground at the time of Child A's accident. I spoke on the telephone with Child A's Mother on 8/8/2023. Child A's Mother works in the preschool classroom and was outside on the play ground at the time of Child A's accident. Child A's Mother stated that she was underneath the play structure assisting a preschooler. CCSM1 was supervising children near the structure and CCSM2 and CCSM3 were standing near the gate. Child A's Mother said the accident happened very fast but believes Child A was using the equipment appropriately. According to Child A's Mother, the toddler and preschool classrooms are normally combined when playing outside and staff often help each other out when supervising the children on the playground. Child A's Mother stated that Child A is active and needs to be closely supervised. She does not feel that staff provided

Disposition: No violation found

Child A (age, 1) received a head injury after falling off an outdoor play structure approved for children ages two through twelve.

Disposition: Substantiated