As a parent, nothing is more heart-wrenching than seeing your child in pain, particularly if it was caused by the negligence of another party. When you drop off your child at a daycare facility, it’s because you trust that they will be kept safe from harm. However, accidents can still occur, particularly if safety precautions are not taken seriously. One potential hazard that can lead to a St. Louis bottle warmer daycare injury is warming baby bottles without proper precautions. Bottle warmers are often used by childcare centers to prepare a bottle when a baby becomes hungry quickly. However, failure to use them safely can result in serious injuries that could have been prevented.
It can be easy to overlook the potential dangers of these everyday items, but when it comes to our children, it’s important to stay vigilant. These handy devices can quickly become hazardous if not handled with care. Toddlers are naturally curious and can accidentally pull on the cord, causing the bottle warmer to fall and spill hot water on the child, resulting in serious burn injuries. The effects of such accidents can be life-altering, including significant medical expenses, pain and suffering, and possibly lifelong scarring. The consequences of such an accident is both devastating, physically and financially.
That’s why it’s crucial to seek professional legal assistance if your child has suffered a bottle warmer burn injury. At Finney Injury Law, we understand how difficult this situation can be and can provide exemplary support during this challenging time, contact us today to reach a St. Louis bottle warmer burn injury lawyer.
How Does a St. Louis Bottle Warmer Daycare Injury Occur?
Bottle warmers can be quite helpful for use in a daycare situation where getting bottles warmed quickly can be a significant help when there are many hungry babies. While the mechanism of a bottle warmer may differ from manufacturer to manufacturer, most bottle warmers warm milk through indirect heat. The caregiver places the bottle in the warmer, which has water in the heating portion of the device. As the water’s temperature increases, it warms the milk evenly. Electric bottle warmers can take the guesswork out of heating up bottles for busy childcare workers, ensuring there are no “hot spots” in the liquid inside the bottle.
Accidents can happen in a split second, and the consequences can be severe. One potential hazard is the cord on the warmer. If a child is able to reach it and tugs on it, hot water can spill on them and cause serious burns. Another danger is the placement of the warmer. If it is put on an uneven surface, it can tip over when a childcare worker is removing the bottle. This can result in significant burns if a child is nearby. Additionally, if the warmer is easily accessible to a curious child, they may accidentally bump it or reach for it with their tiny hands, sending scalding water flying.
More About the Dangers of Bottle Warmers
What Are the Different Types of Injuries Caused by Bottle Warmers?
Among children between the ages of one and four, burn injuries are the leading cause of death, disability, and disfigurement, according to a 2022 NCBI article. Thermal burns occur among children in daycare situations when a hot liquid spills onto the skin. These burns can range from mild to severe. The burns may be first-degree burns, second-degree burns, or third-degree burns.
When a burn is severe enough, it could result in tissue or muscle damage, peeling skin, painful blisters, and the potential loss of a limb. Permanent scarring can also occur, causing disfigurement, which in turn can result in emotional pain. Extreme physical pain is a common result of burns, and your child may also experience shock. Treating severe burns includes intense, lengthy, and expensive medical treatments and procedures, long-term care in some instances, and rehabilitative therapies. Burn injuries can also impact the social, emotional, and psychological well-being of a young child. While a St. Louis bottle warmer burn injury lawyer from Finney Injury Law cannot change what happened to your child, we can help you and your child face the future in the best way possible.
Why Do Daycare Facilities Have Bottle Warmers?
While commercial childcare centers serve a crucial role in today’s economy, they may not have the advantage that a stay-at-home parent has when it comes to caring for children. One of the many challenges of commercial daycare centers is their inability to accurately forecast the hunger patterns of multiple infants. As a result, caregivers often use bottle warmers to keep milk at the right temperature. However, safety precautions are not always taken, and in some cases, serious burn injuries can occur. This is a pressing issue that both parents and daycare providers should be aware of, and proper safety measures must be implemented. When burns result from daycare negligence, it can be extremely beneficial to speak to a St. Louis bottle warmer burn injury lawyer from Finney Injury Law.
How Can Negligence in a Daycare Contribute to a Bottle Warmer Injury?
When it comes to accidents involving bottle warmers, it is important to understand that not all accidents are just that – accidents. If your child has suffered burns from a bottle warmer accident, chances are, negligence was involved. This means that proper care standards were not met, leaving room for preventable accidents to occur. While bottle warmers are generally safe when used in the correct manner, improperly handled warmers can result in serious injuries. It is crucial to take the necessary safety precautions when using and storing bottle warmers to ensure that such accidents do not happen.
Bottle warmers should always be placed out of reach of a child (including the warmer cord), on a high surface where children cannot gain access. Bottle warmers must be used only on level surfaces where tipping cannot occur. Loose cords must be hidden or otherwise secured, ensuring a child cannot grab the cord and pull the warmer over. While child interference is usually the cause of bottle warmer burns, in some instances, a daycare provider can knock the warmer over onto a nearby child, particularly if the facility is understaffed and rushed.
What Should You Do if Negligence is Involved in Your Child’s Bottle Warmer Injury?
If your child’s bottle warmer burns are the result of negligence, the following steps should be taken to preserve a potential claim. First, immediately seek medical attention. Your child’s health and well-being are the most important things to think about. Once you have taken care of your child’s health, ask your daycare facility for an incident report that details the events of the accident. You may choose to report the incident to the Missouri Department of Social Services, so future bottle warmer injuries can be prevented.
Finally, contact an experienced St. Louis bottle warmer burn injury lawyer from Finney Injury Law. It is important that your attorney have significant experience in this type of negligence case. At Finney Injury Law we help families seek justice for the preventable injuries their children have experienced. We are trustworthy attorneys with the legal knowledge and skills you need as you seek justice for your child.
How Hiring a St. Louis Bottle Warmer Injury Lawyer Near You Can Help Your Family
At Finney Injury Law, we understand the devastating effects a bottle warmer injury can have on your child and your family. That’s why we take the time to listen carefully to our clients and learn about their unique situations. We believe that every case is different and requires personalized attention. Our team of experienced daycare negligence lawyers provides exceptional legal representation and helps families get the compensation they deserve. Choosing Finney Injury Law as your St. Louis bottle warmer injury lawyer means putting your family’s future in caring and capable hands. You will also benefit from the following when you hire Finney Injury Law:
- Award-winning trial lawyers who are always 100 percent prepared to take your claim to trial should it become necessary.
- 24/7 availability.
- Virtual visits when you are unable to travel.
- Both English and Spanish-speaking staff are available.
- We work on contingency, making hiring our firm entirely affordable.
If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of needing an attorney to help you and your child after a bottle warmer daycare injury, Finney Injury Law can provide the expertise and compassion you need. With over 100 positive reviews and a stellar reputation, you can trust that we will do everything possible to achieve the best possible outcome for you and your family. We understand how overwhelming and stressful this situation can be, and we are here to help you navigate through it. Our attorneys will work tirelessly to ensure that you receive the compensation you are entitled to while remaining compassionate to your unique situation. Don’t hesitate to contact us and take the first step towards getting the help you and your child need.