Last week an in-home daycare caught fire. You can read all 101 news articles about it from WSET, WDBJ7 or our local newspaper News and Advance. I will only link one article to save myself time.
Day Care Fire. It may seem heartless given there are multiple families in extreme emotional pain- and likely the care giver too. However, if this is thrown under the rug and not brought to light the odds of it happening again, somewhere else, to some more kids is increased. Your children are worth your time in investigating their child care thoroughly.
The summary basically goes last Thursday about 10am the in-home care provider's house caught on fire. It was accidental. It was due to whatever she was cooking, not a faulty appliance or wire.
Ms. Lee was caring for 7 children, a 9 month old, two 21 month olds and 4 children aged 2-4. The babies were in a bedroom just off the kitchen area. The 2-4 y/o children were in the basement. Ms. Lee came out of the house the first time without ANY children with her. For whatever reason her mind frame was to get out call for help, go save the 2-4 y/o as they were all the way in the basement, and then get the babies. A neighbor offered to help. She refused the help and said they were fine. Remember at this point NO children were even outside yet. She safely got the 2-4 y/o outside with minimal injuries. 3 of the 4 did go to the hospital when their parents arrived just to be sure. None were admitted. Ms. Lee tried to save the babies, but the fire was too bad and blocking the bedroom. She did burn her hand but refused help saying to help the babies. The fire fighters did get all three babies out. None of them were brought out safely. All three were in critical condition and taken an hour away to UVA Burn Center in Charlottesville.
After the fire it was soon revealed that Ms. Lee was not in compliance with the laws to run an in-home daycare for Lynchburg, VA.
I believe in prevention and learning from mistakes--- that term is being used lightly.
She needed a business license from the state of Virginia, regardless how many children she cared for as long as she was getting paid. She did not have this. If she had this she would have had an initial fire inspection to ensure protocols were being followed. She would have had 2-4 of these each year. She never had a single inspection, as she was illegally running a business, which YES I am aware this is a common practice, a common "under the table" type deal. But it is NOT worth it.
Next, if you care for 1-5 children you can run an unlicensed child care. However if you have 6 children or more you need to be licensed and regulated through the Department of Social Services and you need to follow this adult to child ratio. Had she been licensed, with JUST her and the ages of these children, she still had one child too many. For parents considering child care for their children, here are the laws on the ratios from Child Care Licensing Agency- Department of Social Services in Richmond, VA
VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES Page 6 of 32 MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR LICENSED FAMILY DAY HOMES 22VAC 40-110-10 et seq. 11/93
1. 1:4 children from birth through 15 months of age;
2. 1:5 children from 16 months through 23 months of age;
3. 1:8 children from two years through four years of age;
4. 1:16 children from five years through nine years of age; and
5. Children who are 10 years of age and older shall not count in determining the ratio of adults to children for staffing purposes.
B. When children are in mixed age groups, the provider shall apply the following point system in determining the need for an assistant. Each care giver shall not exceed 16 points. The provider's own and resident children under eight years of age count in point maximums:
1. Children from birth through 15 months of age count as four points each;
2. Children from 16 months through 23 months of age count as three points each;
3. Children from two years through four years of age count as two points each;
4. Children from five years through nine years of age count as one point each; and
5. Children who are 10 years of age and older count as zero points.
EXCEPTION: The point maximums for mixed age groups or the fixed adult-to-child ratios may be exceeded in one age group for no more than one child for up to one month from the date of the child's enrollment during transitional periods when there is turnover in children receiving care and when the ages of the child leaving and the child entering care do not match.
There were no steps taken to prevent this incident, no fire extinguishers, no fire plan, the cordless phone battery was even dead- which in VA she is required to have landline cordless phone as a daycare provider. Those are ways that the level of this tragedy could have likely been lessened, although I am aware and agree there are no guarantees in life, but why play the lottery with innocent children, at least do the bare minimal requirements.
Marko had a business for 5 years. We had to load his work van with safety vests, a fire extinguisher, cones, a first aid kit and flares. Have we NEEDED these items, no! But they are a preventative measure for himself, and the people near the work sites he worked at-- as well we had one million dollars worth of insurance JUST IN CASE he was hurt, or someone else was hurt. He didn't NEED that much insurance, but we felt responsible and needed to "cover our backs" but also to do what is right IF an emergency accident occuerd. These are bare minimal guidelines for a company that worked in IT,Phones and cabling. I'd expect at least the bare minimal done for someone who cared for my children- they are irreplacable unlike the phones and computers Marko handled.
Social Services has readily available a list of providers (centers and homes) and the results of their 2x a year inspections. As a parent it is my responsibility to do the leg work and investigate a center/school/home before having my child go there. My mom has fire extinguishers, smoke alarms and carbon ones too. The preschool my children attended, I pulled the Social Services papers before I agreed to send them. I did minimal leg work for the public school as I trusted the state and city- prob more than I should, however I was very actively involved there and did see and even participate in several drills there over my years when the times of the drills happened to occur while I was volunteering. I sent my kids to day camp through the Parks and Recs and I investigated that program too. I almost always happened to be at the pool when my kids came swimming, just as a precaution even though my kids knew how to swim. The one day I felt they were short staffed, I stayed and was a volunteer helper until more staff arrived and I walked a few miles home. No it wasn't conveniant that day, but I felt it was absolutely necessary. When I sent the kids to a private school last year I did more leg work, and I even asked my kids if they did a fire, tornado drill, did you have a lock down--- not because I think that they will face these emergencies but because I want them prepared just in case. In addition I volunteer there at least twice a week.
I want ALL parents to know the resources available to help you investigate your child's childcare provider and to do the leg work. This couldn't have been fully prevented it was an ACCIDENT. ACCIDENTS happen. However if the proper steps were in place the severity and life long impact likely would have been minimized.
If she would have had a fire extinguisher, if she would have had a fire plan, if she would have been licensed and followed the protocols given to her, if her phone wasn't dead she could have called sooner, if she hadn't gone outside with NONE of the children the first time, if she would have ACCEPTED help from neighbors instead of telling them she didn't need their help, if all the children would have been closer (the children under 2 were in the bedroom by the kitchen, the kids age 2-4 were in the basement--- yet another huge glaring question). I don't have the answers and maybe if she would have followed the laws and rules and protocols the outcome would have been the same, but maybe we could be reading our newspaper about a hero daycare provider who saved all the children she legally was caring for. I don't like to say this is a wake up call, but it is. Hopefully it opens parents eyes to do the leg work that is their responsibilities and hopefully it encourages other providers to ensure they are following regulations.
Two precious little girls died in this fire (of the three critically injured.). I am beyond thankful for a community that supports one another and am glad to say they have reached their initial funeral fund raising goals. However, they still have medical expenses (for 5-7 days in ICU) and all the othere expenses related to this-- time off work, travel, food, etc etc etc. If you choose to help financially you can donate to
Kayden Rain
Dakota Aubrey
The other child in critical condition was released from UVA today, 8 days after the fire. No word on his name or medical details or a fundraising page for him. Hopefully he makes a full recovery.
NOW BACK TO THE PURPOSE OF THIS BLOG. These links are for helping you to make an imformed decision on your child's care provider:
1. Educate Yourself on the types of child care options, how to interview a provider, what to ask and look for here at Child Care Guidance for Parents and chose what type of child care you want- in home or a center.
2. Do a Search on child care options near you, starting online using the Department of Social Services search center website
3. Look at Inspection- I did look through several inspections and most had minor violations (the same is true of restaurants), so you actually need to take the time and decide whether the violation is critical or minor and is it corrected. The inspections were often most of a day long. They include everything from employee files to playground maintenance. This may help you narrow down your choices and then you can
4. Take a Tour of your potential day care centers. Compare your top picks. An inspection is not going to guarantee you happiness so you need to get a feel for your potential child care choice.
5. Interview the provider prepare questions ahead of time. On the first link under Educate there were some great tips.
Thanks for the in depth overview of such an important and timely topic, proper group care of small children!
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