By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Proper maintenance and supervision are essential for the safety of children in school, day care, summer camp, and other locations. There have been reports of children suffering serious injuries even dying as a result of items being left in and around the playground. Two recent incidents involved the strangulation of a child in a playground. One was strangulated by a jump rose and the other was strangulated by some type rope or twine. If the items were not left in the playground area and / or there was proper supervision in place, the incidents would have likely been prevented.
These tragic deaths and other injuries are valuable lessons for the all summer camps, day care centers, and schools. Of course, lessons taught and learned should not be at the expense, pain, or suffering a child or his family. Supervision and maintenance are vital to the safety and welfare of our children. Children, especially those who are pre-school and elementary school age, do not recognize the dangers of their actions or the actions of their playmates. If children had good judgment and always acted reasonably, then there would not be much of a need for supervision or maintenance at all. However, as we should all know, children lack property safety awareness and need that certain level of supervision and guidance by responsive adults who serve as child care providers.
Supervision would have prevented the child from engaging in dangerous activity of wrapping a string, cord, or jump rope around the neck which led to the disastrous consequences. Because of these and other incidents, it is important that day care centers, schools, and supervisors of playground areas be inspected during the day to make sure that the playground equipment is well-maintained, there is no debris or other dangerous items left behind, and that dedicated and undistracted supervision is in place for the safety of children.
Playgrounds are usually locations were children have fun and spend time with their friends and family. Unfortunately for some children and their families, a playground can be the location where the child took his or her last breath.
When a child is injured as a result of the neigence or carelessness of a school, day care center, business government entity or other child care provider, it is important for a parent to seek legal advice. A Child Injury Lawyer can provide that necessary direction for parent and the during the most trying times in the aftermath of a serious personal injury or tragic wrongful death of a child. The book – The ABCs of Child Injury – Legal Rights of the Injured Child – What Every Parent Should Know – has chapters on Automobile Accidents, Day Care Center Injuries, School Injuries, Theme Park and Attraction Injuries, and other topics. You can get this book for free at The ABCs of Child Injury.
It should be noted when there is a death of a child there is no word in the English language for the aftermath of the tragedy. When a spouse dies, the surviving spouse is a widow or widower. When both parents die, a child is referred to as an ophran. However, when a chldies unnaturally and decades before the child should, there is a hole left in the hearts of the family, friends, and community. No legal case and no amount of compensation can ever replace a child. This sentence should be repeated again. No legal case and no amount of compensation can ever replace a child. However, the law does recognize a cause of action and, at times, the right and just cause of action should be taken to compensate the grieving parents for their loss and to send a message of sorts that children should be cared for property and when that level of care fails – action should and will be taken.