• 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

  On 8/10/2023 I completed an onsite inspection and interviews with program director Kari Rinard and child care staff member (CCSM) 1, CCSM 2, CCSM 3, and CCSM 4. Kari Rinard reported that she is not aware of any child having a sunburn this summer and can only think of one child whose parent questioned if they applied sunscreen. She recalled one child did have blisters on their skin from hand, foot and mouth disease earlier in the summer, but she was never informed by a parent that anyone was sunburned. Kari Rinard said that since the start of the summer there have been two child care staff members who have left employment, but they did not inform her that they received a complaint from parents complaining of sunburn. Kari Rinard said none of her current child care staff members have reported to her any complaints regarding sunburns. She said they apply sunscreen before each trip outside which is usually two to three times a day. I observed the cubby for each child that has a permission slip on file for sunscreen, and the sunscreen tubes were present in each child's cubby. The sunscreen is provided by the parents and there is back up sunscreen available onsite if they run out mid-day. CCSM 1 reported that she and the other child care staff members apply sunscreen at least twice a day right before they head outside for the morning playtime and afternoon playtime. She said they do not do water play so it is not needed after water play. I asked her about a water table, and she said they do play with that once in a while, but the children do not get wet enough to wash the sunscreen off in her opinion. CCSM 1 reported that it is standard practice for them to put extra sunscreen on the children if they notice their skin is getting red. She has not been approached by a parent with concerns regarding sunburn or blistering. CCSM 2 reported that she applies sunscreen before each trip outside. Depending on the weather they go outside either two or three times a day and sunscreen is applied to each child that has permission to have sunscreen before they go outside. She has never had to apply it while outside because she has never noticed a child having red skin. She has never been spoken to a parent regarding concerns for sunburn or blistering. She reported that they do have a water table that is used once in a while and if a child gets really wet then she will re-apply sunscreen after the water play. CCSM 3 reported that she puts sunscreen on the children before each session of outdoor activities which is at least two times a day, sometimes three times. She has 3 never noticed a child with a sunburn and never been told by a parent that a child received a sunburn from outside time at the center. She has witnessed other child care staff members applying sunscreen. It is their classroom routine for all classrooms before going outside. She reported her classroom does not play with the water table, but she understands re-application of the sunscreen would be needed after water play. CCSM 4 reported that she applies sunscreen twice a day right before her classroom goes outside. Sometimes her classroom will go outside for an extra playtime and if that happens, she and the other child care staff members will reapply the sunscreen. She has not been told by a parent that a child in her classroom was sunburned after being at the center. She said her classroom does not play with the water table. On 8/10/ 2023 I spoke to Child A's mother. She reported that earlier in the year toward the end of May Child A came home from the center with a sunburn that turned into small water filled blisters and peeled. She did address this with the child care staff member in Child A's classroom. She said that child care staff member no longer works at the center. The child care staff member told her that they were playing with the water table and it's possible the sunscreen washed off. Child A's mother said that about two or three weeks ago, Child A had another sunburn

Appropriate care was not provided when adequate sunscreen was not applied to Child A. Adequate shade was not available to prevent Child A from getting sunburned.

Disposition: Substantiated