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On July 02, 2024, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that: An unknown six-year-old boy hit his mouth on a metal bar and broke out a bottom tooth. His teeth went through his lip. There were blood pockets behind his other teeth. The incident happened on June 28, 2024, and the parent was not notified. After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Michelle Honea has found this allegation to be substantiated based on the following evidence:
5 CSR 25-500.192(5)(A)., which states: "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 17, 2024, CI Honea conducted an unannounced inspection to the facility and interviewed Director Carol Harrell, caregiver Candice Barron, and Child A.
On July 17, 2024, CI Honea interviewed Director Carol Harrell who stated that she was away at training on the day of the incident. Caregiver Candice Barron called her to tell her about Child A losing a tooth outside on some play equipment. Candice stated that since she knew the family better, that she would call Parent A. She received another call right after that and just forgot to call Parent A. The next morning, she talked to Parent A who was going to take Child A to the dentist.
On July 17, 2024, CI Honea interviewed caregiver Candice Barron who stated that she took the class outside to play. Child A was on the bouncing play equipment with three other boys. Child A's butt came up off the seat, almost like he was bucked off, and that caused him to hit his chin on the bar. She asked Child A if he was okay, and he told her the tooth fell out. Child A had blood in his mouth. She gave him a wet paper towel to stop the bleeding. She called Carol to let her know about the incident and she said she would call Parent A since she knew the family better. Candice completed an incident report and put it on Carol's desk. She was gone before Parent A came to pick up Child A. She did not know Parent A was not notified.
On July 17, 2024, CI Honea interviewed Child A who stated the following. His tooth was a little loose but not ready to come out yet. He was jumping / bouncing on the play equipment and fell hitting his chin on the bar which caused the tooth to fall out. It hurt and he had blood in his mouth. Parent A took him to the dentist to make sure his mouth was okay. He is okay now.
On July 17, 2024, CI Honea conducted a phone interviewed Parent A who stated that Child A told her exactly what happened that day. Child A stated he was jumping on something and came down hitting his chin on the bar. When she picked up Child A that day all that staff said was that Child A "he lost a tooth". No one called her or notified her that something happened. She did not receive an incident report that day. Later that night Child A was complaining that his mouth hurt. Child A had lacerations in the top of his mouth and there was a lot of blood. She took Child A to the dentist and there was no permanent damage to his mouth. She spoke with Director Carol who stated, "she dropped the ball on notifying Parent A".
On July 17, 2024, CI Honea observed the play equipment that Child A lost his tooth on. The play equipment has four seats that cross in the middle to make a cross with springs underneath. CI Honea reviewed the incident report from that day which states Child A was bouncing with friends on the playground equipment and he was bucked forward hitting his mouth on the bar that knocked out a tooth.
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