The state has cited the YWCA New Britain daycare for violations connected to the death of a 2-year-old in July.
Saunti Reynolds choked on meatball while at the daycare on July 29.
The boy’s mother, Shamyra Cooke, said she got a call from the daycare’s director on that morning saying that Saunti had choked on a meatball and he was OK, but that they needed Cooke there.
When she arrived, staff members were crying and running around and Saunti was on the floor, intubated, and people were doing CPR, Cooke said.
The child was taken to the hospital where he later died.
The Connecticut Office of Early Childhood sent a letter to the YWCA New Britain in August citing several violations.
The agency said the daycare failed to ensure the safety, health and development of children by failing to minimize choking hazards when serving food to children. Specifically, not cutting the food into pieces a half-inch or less in diameter for toddler age children.
The daycare also failed to properly implement first aid and CPR procedures during a medical emergency, failed to immediately call 911 for a life-threatening medical emergency, and did not provide adequate supervision of toddler age children during meals when staff did not sit and/or engage with the children, according to the Office of Early Childhood.
YWCA New Britain released a statement about the findings on Friday:
“YWCA New Britain takes the state’s investigation very seriously. We have cooperated fully throughout this process and continue to work closely with our licensing partners to address all identified issues. Our focus remains on providing for the care and safety of the children and families who rely on us.”
The Office of Early Childhood notified the daycare that it has initiate formal charges against the center’s license.
The agency has scheduled a compliance meeting for Oct. 23.