A childcare center in Brunswick has permanently shuttered three months after a terrible tragedy claimed the life of a youngster. Jamal Bryant Jr., a 16-month-old toddler, passed away after choking on a banana that became caught in his throat. According to the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, or DECAL, the staff waited two minutes before calling 911 for assistance.
Bryant Jr.’s family is outraged over the loss and alleges that the staff was not only irresponsible in caring for their infant, but also for other children who visited The Kids Nest Learning Center.
Little Bryant Jr. was given a bit of watermelon, which made him choke. According to the page set up by Jamal’s family, “JB tragically lost his life when The Kids Nest Learning Center failed to have staff trained in CPR, gave the 18 month a large piece of watermelon, didn’t require kids to be seated while eating and the staff weren’t seated within arms reach of the children as mandated by Georgia’s Dept of Early Childhood and Learning (DECAL).”
An inquiry revealed that the personnel had phoned for assistance after a delay. According to a DECAL investigation, tiny Bryant Jr. began to choke, and personnel waited one minute and 48 seconds before calling 911 for assistance. The Kids Nest Learning Center’s facilities remained shuttered for three weeks until the inquiry was completed.
Charles Grant, the proprietor of The Kids Nest Learning Center, testified in late May that only two staff members were there when Bryant Jr. started choking, and only one of them was CPR certified. He stated that the personnel did not follow the center or state laws since they did not watch the youngsters while they ate.
Taylor Hicks, the devastated mother, said the facility failed her son.
“We depend on you all to take care of our children to the best of your ability and if that was one of the rules, I feel like obviously you should have followed them,” she explained.
Because of major rule violations that “seriously affected the health and safety of children and demonstrated the intentional and reckless disregard for the physical and mental health and safety of children,” DECAL has taken steps to permanently shut The Kids Nest. Grant first challenged the judgment, but then changed his mind.
“Notice has been given to the Office of State Administrative Hearings so that the matter can be dismissed and the court date canceled. Since there is no longer an appeal, the facility has officially been closed in our system owing to the license revocation,” the statement added.
