Fatal Day Care Accident Has Parents Concerned for Children's Safety

Toddler Faith Phillips died Sunday at Providence Hospital

Tools

By Lauren Maxwell
Bio | Email

Story Created: Sep 10, 2012 at 6:49 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Sep 11, 2012 at 9:52 AM AKDT

ANCHORAGE – A toddler died Sunday after getting strangled in playground equipment at Illumination Child Care Center in Wasilla. Parents are calling it their “worst nightmare.”

19-month-old Faith Phillips died after doctors at Providence Hospital declared her brain dead.

According to authorities, the girl got her head stuck in playground equipment and was accidentally strangled.

She was taken to Providence, where Phillips died yesterday.

The state has suspended the license of that day care while a full investigation takes place.

The sound of children playing and laughing are the usual sounds coming from day care centers, but after the fatality in Wasilla, parents are asking how safe their day care centers are.

“It it’s less than three feet off the ground, you don’t need safety surfacing, other than soft grass, underneath them,” said MaryEllen Fritz, of Vineyard Early Learning Center.

Openings that are too small for a child’s head pass state tests, but older models don’t. “We have such young children,” said Fritz. “Also, on the rope edge, that could be a place where children put their head through and then fall through and then get trapped.”

Both state and city childcare licensing agencies conduct inspections. And playground equipment is on the list to be checked out for every inspection. “Not broken, it has to be in good repair,” said Laura Burrell, of Anchorage Child Care Licensing. “A standard reply is remove, repair, replace.”

And remember: Parents have a role to play, as well.

In Anchorage, parents can go to the office of Child Care Licensing at 25th and L Street to read those inspection reports.

The same reports will be available online in October.
 

You have indicated this comment should be removed.

Close

The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .

monic said on Friday, Sep 14 at 7:40 AM

Very, very sad and alarming, accidents happen we all know, but that baby was alone for log time, how many people was there watching?

101816085
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Anonymous said on Wednesday, Sep 12 at 9:39 AM

install cameras that the state can see as well...

101668361
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Misty said on Monday, Sep 10 at 10:19 PM

Such a sad situation, my thoughts and condolences are with the family.

101554496
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

KTVA CBS 11 | Anchorage, Alaska News and Weather and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.