Child injuries in Homestead and other Florida cities are every parent’s nightmare. Unfortunately, each year children are seriously injured and even killed due to the negligence and wrongful acts of caregivers. It is important for parents to be aware of the safety of their children when children are placed in daycare, the care of a babysitter, or with any caregiver. To prevent serious injuries, parents need to:
1) Start planning ahead and asking lots of questions. If you need help finding care for your child, you can contact Child Care Aware (1-800-424-2246 or http://childcareaware.org) for information about Florida options and recommended services. You may also want to ask your employer, family and friends, and others you know for their recommendations. Start planning child care well in advance, as it takes time to find someone who is qualified.
2) Do research if hiring a nanny, au pair, or babysitter. Your child could easily sustain a head injury in Homestead or your community if a nanny or caregiver is negligent. Look for someone with experience and excellent recommendations. Ideally, look for someone who has taken first aid and other safety courses. Check references carefully. If your caregiver will be driving your child anywhere, check that their driving record does not include drunk driving accidents in Homestead or your community as well as other types of traffic accidents.
3) Avoid assuming that a family member or family friend is a safer babysitter. If a family member is resentful of always having to babysit or is not checked, they could just as easily fail to supervise your child, leading to a slip and fall injury in Homestead or another type of injury. Check family member’s qualifications as carefully as you would a stranger’s and consider paying a family member for the care they offer. Pay can help enforce that the position of caring for your children is a serious one requiring their full attention.
4) Research any daycare or childcare center. Visit the daycare and ask plenty of questions. What are the safety processes in place? How are employees screened? Look for a licensed and registered daycare of child care home with plenty of good recommendations. Also, look for a place where the child to adult ratio is small. Too many children and too few adults can mean inadequate supervision.
Once you have hired a caregiver or have made arrangements for child care, make unscheduled visits to see how your child is doing. Is the care meeting your expectations? Continue to check occasionally to ensure that your child is getting the standard of care you deserve.
Even if you are very cautious about your child’s welfare, you still need to be vigilant. Look for signs of abuse or injury. If your child has bruises or other signs of unexplained injury of if your child is suddenly withdrawn or starts acting unusually, seek answers. Take your child to the doctor.
If your child has been injured due to the recklessness of a caregiver, contact the Flaxman Law Group. Depending on your situation, you may be entitled to seek compensation that can help pay for medical costs and other services that may help your child. For details, arrange a free accident consultation with the Flaxman Law Group today.