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Compliance Inspector (CI) Jessica Graham investigated the allegation that on January 28, 2025, Child A, age 5-months-old, received 2nd degree burns on his neck and 1st degree burns on his left shoulder after Pamela Murphy spilled coffee on him while he was sleeping. Child A was also kicked in the back of the head by another child a few days ago and parents were not informed about it until January 28, 2025. This allegation is substantiated based on the following rule violations.
5 CSR 25-500.102(1)(F)., which states: "Caregivers shall be capable of handling emergencies promptly and intelligently."
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5 CSR 25-500.092(1)(B)1.D., which states: "Sleeping equipment shall be arranged to provide at least a two foot (2') aisle on one (1) long side of the equipment."
AND
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 January 30, 2025, Margaret Thatch arrived at the facility around 9:15am and was told by caregiver Pam Murphy that Child A, age 5-months-old, had coffee spilled on him. Pam said that she sat her coffee on the counter and it tipped over into his bed, spilling on him. She called Parent A around 9:30am and Parent A said she could come around 10:00am. Child A's neck and back were red. By the time that Grandma, boyfriend and Parent A arrived, blisters had formed. No ambulance was called after the incident happened. Margaret said she was not told about the kicking incident until the afternoon of the coffee incident.
Pam Murphy, caregiver, stated that she had went into the classroom and set her breakfast and 20oz cup of coffee on the counter so she could move some children and beds out of the way. Child A was laying in his bed next to the counter. As she was moving the children, the coffee feel into Child A's bed getting on his back and his neck. She pulled him out of the bed and took off his shirt. He was red. This happened around 9:00am. Margaret showed up around 9:05am and she told her what happened. Margaret then called Parent A. She never thought to call 911 for Child A. She put a cool cloth on him. The classroom is congested in that area with all the beds together and the children there. On the day of the kicking incident she didn't see anything wrong with Child A after that happened so she didn't tell Parent A. A child was just walking by his bed and kicked the side where he was laying and hit his head. Child A did cry because it startled him.
Alyssa Murphy, caregiver, was in the classroom when Pam spilled the coffee. Pam had to move beds around to get through the room and her coffee spilled onto Child A. Child A was crying. There were two blisters that popped up on his back and one on his neck by the time that Parent A arrived.
Ellery Jackson, caregiver, was also in the classroom. She stated that the pack n play that Child A was in was blocking Pam from entering the classroom so Pam had to move it. There were three or four children standing in front of the pack n play. She told Alyssa to move the children but Alyssa is slow to respond to things and help out. It was a total accident that the coffee fell into Child A's bed. She has concerns with Alyssa working in that classroom because she does not feel that she can handle emergency situations or respond appropriately.
On January 30, 2025, Parent A stated via phone that she received a text message from Margaret around 9:25am asking her to call. She called and Margaret was beating around the bush about telling her what had was going on. She kept saying that she needed Parent A to come to the facility but didn't say why. She told Margaret that she could be there around 10:00am. Her boyfriend and Grandma arrived at the facility before Parent A. When she arrived, Margaret told her that coffee had spilled onto Child A and he was crying. She took Child A to the emergency room and he had second degree burns. A week before this incident, Child A was kicked in the head while in his pack n play and she was not told about that incident until she picked him up that evening around 5:00pm.
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