Special Investigation Report # 2013D0929010

Allegation: On 5/6/2013 Child A was observed with a knot on his head,
scratches on his nose and his top lip alleged from him pushing a toy and the
toy stopped, which caused him to fall and hit the concrete.
INVESTIGATION:
Child A’s mother stated that she received a telephone call from Ms. Tomlinson who
reported that Child A fell while pushing a toy. He fell and hit his face on the cement.
When Child A was picked up from the center he had scratches from the middle to
the left side of his face, scratches on his nose and surrounding the nose area, and a
bump on his forehead. She also noticed woodchips on his clothes. Child A’s mother
took him to an urgent care in Grosse Pointe Woods for treatment the same day.
They checked his vision which was fine. She was told to monitor him for 24 hours
and was told what signs to look for if a concussion has occurred. Child A’s mother
stated she met with Ms. Sharp the next day and the director appeared nonchalant
after she reported that she took Child A to urgent care. Child A’s mother stated
that she liked Ms. Tomlinson as her child’s caregiver and didn’t think that Ms.
Tomlinson was intentionally allowing things to happen to her child, but felt she could
no longer trust them to care for her child.
I interviewed Ms. Sharp regarding the injury. She stated that he was outside playing
with a bull dozer truck. The scoop at the end of the truck got caught on the cement
and the momentum pitched him forward. His face slid on the ground. She stated
that Child A didn’t appear upset. She observed that his forehead, nose and upper lip
were all scraped. She also observed a goose egg bump on his head. Ms. Sharp
was not able to locate the accident report for this injury during the onsite inspection.
Ms. Sharp confirmed that she met with Child A’s mother the following day, and she
withdrew him from the program. She was informed at the meeting that Child A was
taken to his pediatrician. I asked Ms. Sharp if she reported the injury to her
consultant Jennifer DeMunyck. She stated that she didn’t report the injury to the
consultant, “they only applied antibiotic ointment. I didn’t think this was something
that needed to be reported”. Ms. Sharp was informed that any medical treatment
that a child receives as a result of an injury that occurs while in care is considered a
serious accident.
I interviewed Ms. Tomlinson who confirmed that this accident occurred on the
outdoor playground area. She was on the playground with her assistant Ms.
Poznanski and estimated that they had approximately seven to eight preschool-age
children at the time of the incident. She was re-entering the outdoor play area after
taking a child indoors to the restroom. As she stepped out of the door she witnessed
Child A scooting/pushing a toy tow truck on the cement trike area. The tow truck
had a scooper attached to the front of it that got caught on a crack in the sidewalk.
She witnessed Child A fall over the top of the truck but was unable to get to him
before his face hit the ground.
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