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Compliance Inspector (CI) Heather Radney conducted an investigation of the allegation that a child put a jump rope around the neck of another child and dragged her down the slide, leaving significant rope burns. The caregiver did not write an incident report or notify the child's parents until they came to pick her up. The allegation is substantiated based on the following information:
5 CSR 25-500.192(5)(A) - In case of accident or injury to a child, the provider shall notify the parent(s) immediately. If the child requires emergency medical care, the provider shall follow the parent's(s') written instructions.
On July 28, 2023, CI Radney conducted interviews with Caregivers Janice McIntyre and Patience Kalu. Caregivers Janice McIntyre and Patience Kalu reported that the incident occurred on July 20, 2023, when William Bolden was in charge of the classroom outside on the playground. Child B and Child C reported Child A got hurt on the playground with a jump rope and Child A cried. On September 12, 2023, CI Radney conducted a telephone interview with Team Lead Celine Keesoon, who reported Parent A signed Child A out at 4:38 p.m.
On September 12, 2023, CI Radney conducted telephone interviews with Parent A and Parent B. Parent A reported he walked in to Child A's classroom at about 4:45 p.m. and she was sitting at the table and was not crying. He saw the marks on her neck and asked William Bolden what happened but William did not answer. Child A told him another girl wrapped a jump rope around her neck. He asked William Bolden why he wasn't notified of the incident before now and William did not answer. He left with Child A, went home to pick up Parent B and they took Child A to the emergency room. Child A was checked out and had no significant injuries but the doctor told them Child A did have a swollen larynx and to watch her eating and drinking so she doesn't choke.
On September 12, 2023, CI Radney received and reviewed photographs of Child A's neck from Parent A. Four pictures show Child A looking up and to the side to show the area under her chin to the collar of her shirt. Redness in horizontal lines around Child A's throat in approximately two places can be seen. Red scratches in diagonal and vertical patterns can be seen around Child A's throat in approximately five places. A red quarter-sized oval spot on Child A's jawline can be seen.
On July 28, 2023, CI Radney received and reviewed William Bolden's written statement, provided by Creative World Belton. Caregiver William Bolden's statement reads "I reacted immediately to sounds of distress, undoing any tangled rope and picking her up to hold and comfort the child. This was after I was talking to other children and keeping an eye on the rest of the class. This was after a delayed start @ 3:40 as opposed to the scheduled 3:30 PM time, due to difficulties in having the attention of the class." On September 12, 2023, CI Radney attempted to reach William Bolden by phone; a voicemail was left but no return call was received.
No caregiver or parent can give a more accurate time frame for when the injury occurred; therefore it can be determined there could have been as much as 58 minutes between when the injury may have occurred and the time that Parent A signed out Child A and noticed the marks himself. Child A's parents were not notified of the accident/injury that occurred to Child A when a jump rope was wrapped around her neck on the playground.
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