Tree limb strikes toddler at Winder daycare center

A 2-year-old child playing outside a newly opened daycare center in Winder was knocked unconscious by a falling tree limb this morning and has been flown by helicopter to an Atlanta hospital, according to the Winder Police Department.

"Apparently, while playing outside a tree limb broke and fell hitting the child in the head and neck region knocking the child unconscious," said Officer Chris Cooper, the WPD spokesman. "The child was sent to Barrow (Regional) Medical (Center) and has since been life flighted to a children's hospital in Atlanta."

The accident occurred at the Cribs and Crayons daycare center at 74 Church St., which has been in operation at that location for only weeks. A section of a large tree broke off, apparently due to high winds caused by Hurricane Sandy off the Mid Atlantic Coast, and limbs fell both inside and outside of the fenced playground area.

The National Weather Service in Atlanta issued a "high wind advisory" this morning for most of north and central Georgia, warning of winds with sustained speeds of 20-25 miles per hour and wind gusts of up to 35 miles per hour that are making driving difficult, particularly for high-profile vehicles.

"These winds could also down small tree limbs," states the notice, which is in effect for Barrow County until 8 p.m. today, Oct. 29. The weather service said the high winds are due to the combination of the hurricane that is positioned along the Mid Atlantic Coast, combined with high pressure building south from Canada.

Comments

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#1 Haley on 10/29/12 at 02:04 PM

My thoughts and prayers are with this family during such a terrible ordeal.

#2 JDW on 10/29/12 at 02:14 PM

My thoughts and prayers are with this child and the family! Why in the world would they be letting 2 year olds be playing outside in this cold weather and the raging winds. This was an accident just waiting to happen. That child and the others should have been inside on a day like this. The daycare is just lucky it didnt hit more children. Use some common sense.
I pray that this child will be okay, but if it was my child, there would be a lawsuit filed!

#2.1 Haley on 10/29/12 at 03:10 PM

I had the exact same thoughts. Such a terrible accident could have been avoided, the children didn't need to be out with such high winds and chilly temperatures anyway. Why the daycare allowed them out is beyond me. I hope the child recovers and the daycare is investigated like it should be.

#3 TickedOff on 10/29/12 at 04:10 PM

It is simply a very sad and unfortunate accident. It could have happened in someones backyard at home. Its 59 degrees outside , well within reason for children to go out and play a short time. To suggest a lawsuit is indicitive of the pathetic, litigious, society
we have become. More kids need to go out and play. These care providers obviously were not trying to put kids in harms way. If theyd have kept them in all day, when the kids got home, the parents would have been complaining about how"wild" they were and wondering why the didnt go out and play.

#3.1 Darrow on 10/30/12 at 08:57 AM

A "wild" child is a live child. A suit will be filed, and this place will be bankrupted, shuttered and closed. Count on it. Letting toddlers caper underneath a ton of dead limbs during a wind advisory is a clear-cut case of negligence. Screaming "accident!" is not going to absolve their hine end. Neither is the GOP mantra of "loser pays" (a doctrine which doesn't exist) and bemoaning the
so-called lititgious society. (which doesn't, either). That's what the courts are for: justice. The alternative is fascism, which is what the GOP would prefer.

#4 Reality on 10/29/12 at 05:39 PM

My heart sank when I heard this story. Not knowing which day care it was initially, I was concerned for my child. My thoughts and prayers are with this family.

To answer your questions about why they were outside. If it gets above 40 degrees, they are required by the State to take the children outside for a minimum 30 minutes.

#5 JDW on 10/30/12 at 05:36 AM

The State also requires caregivers to use common sense. And common sense tells you not to let children outside when the winds are the high. Even the elementary school did not let the kids play outside.
And being a parent of three, there is no way I would have taken issue for the children to remain inside. And Im sure the parents involve feel the same way. Now their child is fighting for his life. Yes, there is good reason why a lawsuit should be filed in this case!

#6 Amy S. on 10/30/12 at 07:08 AM

My child attends the daycare talked about above...Just for all of you who want to criticize & throw stones at the owner/workers of the facility, my suggestion to y'all would be to grow up and get a life. Any freak accident, or accident in general could be prevented if things were done differently, but guess what? They aren't & that's life. This was not an intentional situation to put a child at harms way. The owner & teacher of this daycare are amazing women, who happen to love the children as if they are their own. I feel blessed to have such wonderful people caring for my child. Even after such horrible, nasty things being said, there is not another place i would put my child. He is back today & i didn't lose any sleep last night wondering whether, or not he'd be taken care of...nor am i concerned today. For those above who want to talk negatively just remember that an accident can happen anywhere, including inside your home. Next time you want to bad mouth someone, or a situation, think about that & how horrible you would feel if something crazy happened inside your home and you were talked about in a horrible manner over something as crazy as what happened yesterday morning to such a sweet, innocent little boy, who was at a daycare under the care of 2 extraordinary women who loved him.

#7 LeeAnn on 10/30/12 at 07:52 AM

I, as well, am a parent to a child that attends the daycare the ACCIDENT accured at..
That's right, ACCIDENT - they happen, its life! You all speak of common sense? Guess what, that's one you should all think about. So your unnecessary comments & useless 2 cents about filing a lawsuit can be shoved..where ever you please!

#8 Reality on 10/30/12 at 08:39 AM

I agree with the comments both Amy and LeeAnn made. Accidents happen anywhere, regardless of the weather conditions. A tree limb can fall when wind speeds are 0 to Category 5 Hurricane level. It is not something anyone prepares for or expects. The people at the daycare did what hundreds of daycares around this state did yesterday, and that was let the kids outside to play.

Those of you who are out there screaming for a law suit, you are the reason why there should be a Loser Pays legal system. What are you going to do, demand that all day cares remove trees that are within 100 feet of a playground?

This was a horrible accident, and my heart goes out to the family and the teachers involved.

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Tree limb strikes toddler at Winder daycare center

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Tree limb strikes toddler at Winder daycare center

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