BAKERSFIELD, Calif.(KBAK/KBFX) — A mother is questioning how Loudon Elementary School handled her 4-year-old daughter’s injury after she says the child fell during the school day and was not taken for medical attention or reported to her until pickup.
Destiny said her daughter, Daniela, was at school for TK when she fell after lunch. Destiny said Daniela told her she was getting ready to return to class when she took off running, fell face-first and hit her head.
Destiny said she picked up Daniela around 2:45 p.m. and saw scrapes, dirt and blood on her face and clothes.
“She had red scrapes, blood just all on the side of her face,” Destiny said. “I’m in shock.”
Destiny said she was not contacted by school staff before pickup. She said the teacher told her Daniela had experienced “a little fall,” but Destiny said she had no missed calls or messages from the school.
“I don’t expect this much of an injury and nobody to call me,” Destiny said. “I didn’t have one missed call from the school staff or even a message on ParentSquare.”
Destiny said she went to the school office looking for answers and spoke with a nurse, who Destiny said told her she was busy and that the situation was not the school’s usual protocol. According to Destiny , the nurse later left her a voicemail describing what happened as an “honest mistake.”
Destiny said she then took Daniela to the hospital. She said doctors were concerned about the delay in medical attention and wanted to make sure Daniela did not have a fracture or other injury. Destiny said Daniela had a bump on her head and complained of neck pain.
“She did have a bump on her head,” Destiny said. “They just wanted to make sure that she didn’t have any hairline fractures.”
Destiny also said she was concerned that Daniela was put down for nap time after the fall. She said Daniela later told her that her head was hurting during nap time.
“I feel like this mistake could have cost somebody, like, a lot,” Destiny said. “It was a head injury.”
Destiny said Daniela has since expressed fear about returning to school.
“She tells me she misses school, but she’s scared because what if nobody calls?” Destiny said.
Destiny said the district offered switching Daniela to another school as an option, but she does not believe that addresses her concerns about how the incident was handled.
“I feel like switching schools is not going to fix the problem and the damage that was already done,” she said.
Destiny said she wants the district to review what happened, including how staff handled Daniela’s injury and whether staff followed proper procedures.
“I want more than just an apology,” Destiny said. “I want the school district to look into it.”
Loudon Elementary redirected questions about the incident and injury protocols to the Panama-Buena Vista Union School District. In a written response, the district said it listens to families’ safety concerns and works with them on “actionable solutions.”
The district’s written policy states that when a student requires emergency or urgent medical treatment, a parent or guardian “shall” be contacted. The policy does not specifically define what qualifies as an urgent injury or establish a specific timeframe for contacting a parent or guardian.
Destiny said school officials told her the principal believed proper safety procedures were followed and that the issue was a communication problem. Destiny disputed that explanation and said she wants the district to examine the staff and procedures involved.
“They need to be more equipped in this area,” Destiny said. “When it comes to children’s safety, I feel like it’s not being met.”
Destiny said she is also looking into her legal rights regarding the incident. For now, she said her main concern is making sure other parents do not have a similar experience.
“I want parents to be notified as soon as any accident happens and especially when it comes to a neck or a head injury,” Destiny said.
Daniela’s mother said she wants accountability from the district and changes to how injuries are handled and communicated to parents.