A daycare facility in Homestead finds itself under scrutiny following an incident in which a toddler sustained second-degree burns due to a bottle warmer mishap.
A mother’s anguish
Samantha Cabrera, the distressed mother of 1-year-old Ozias Veloso, shared her harrowing experience in an interview with NBC6.
Reports are that on November 16th, her young son suffered second-degree burns on his leg while attending the Decroly Learning Child Care Center.
Daycare’s statement
In response to the incident, the daycare center released a statement expressing their deep concern over the accident.
They affirmed their commitment to providing a safe and nurturing environment for the children under their care while acknowledging the severity of the incident.
The daycare’s management vowed to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the bottle warmer accident.
The fateful incident
According to an accident report disclosed by Cabrera, the incident occurred when Ozias reached for a toy, causing a bottle warmer to tip over and spill its contents onto the child’s leg.
The report raised questions about the presence of a bottle warmer near a child, leaving Cabrera puzzled about the staff’s attentiveness during the incident.
Regulatory compliance at stake
According to NBC6, Cabrera’s concerns were further compounded by the daycare’s handling of the situation.
Although the employee applied cold water and a bandage to Ozias’s leg, paramedics were not summoned, according to Cabrera.
The incident has raised concerns in light of regulations set by the Florida Department of Children and Families, which mandate that bottle-warming devices must remain inaccessible to children at all times.
These devices should also be maintained at the lowest possible temperature setting and securely positioned to prevent tipping, splashing, or spilling.
Severity of the burns
Cabrera described Ozias’s injuries as “pretty bad,” with his skin initially peeling and later developing painful blisters.
The extent of the burns suggested that the water and milk in the bottle warmer had reached extremely high temperatures, causing severe harm to the child.
Reports are that the toddler was treated at HCA Florida Kendall Hospital.
The mother was told by doctors that Ozias would not be able to expose his leg to sunlight for a year and that he would be left with a permanent scar.
Cabrera told NBC6 that she is working with an attorney to take legal action to hold someone accountable.
She decided to stop sending her son to the daycare.
