What are the Risks to Children in North Carolina Day Care Centers When Rules are Violated?

By David Wolf, Attorney

Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

In North Carolina and other states, day care centers are subject to various rules and regulations. Most day care laws are governed by state statute. There are some local ordinances as well. When rules and regulations are violated, children are put at risk for personal injury and even death. One simple rule, that for one reason or another, continues to be violated by day care centers involves the use and documentation of list as each child departs day care regulations. That’s right, this simple regulation only requires pen, paper, due diligence, common sense, and last but not least attentiveness. When this regulation is violated, a child can be left behind and put at great risk for personal injury. This is especially true during hot summer months and cold witness months. In addition, any time that a child is left behind on a day care center school or bus, a child may be injured by other means like strangulation, poisoning, choking, etc. . .

In Chapel Hill, North Carolina, it was reported that a 2 year old (Karah Evans) was left on a school bus for more than six hours with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees. The mother – Kimberly Cates – later took her the the local emergency room for evaluation and rehydration. It is amazing that the child survived the ordeal. In a much shorter time period and even with cooler temperatures, a child can easily die under these conditions. As a result of the incident and violation of the North Carolina day care center regulations, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services closed the day care center – Operation New Life – Amity. You can read more about this incident and the actions by the State thereafter at Day Care Center Ordered to Close After Incident (Child Left on School Bus).

The book – The ABCs of Child Injury – Legal Rights of the Injured Child – What Every Parent Should Know – has chapters on Day Care Center Injuries, School Injuries, Playground Injuries, and other topics. You can get this book for free at The ABCs of Child Injury.