10 drink windshield wiper fluid at Ark. day care

[sour_blueberry]

By JON GAMBRELL, Associated Press Writer Jon Gambrell, Associated Press Writer

 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090313/ap_on_re_us/windshield_fluid_sickness

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Ten children at a day care center drank windshield wiper fluid after a staffer served it from a container mistaken for Kool-Aid and placed in a refrigerator, authorities said Friday.

The day care owner surrendered her state license Friday.

Doctors estimate the children, ages 2 to 7, drank about an ounce of the blue fluid late Thursday afternoon before realizing it tasted wrong, said Laura James, a pediatric pharmacologist and toxicologist at Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock.

Only one child remained hospitalized Friday morning, after blood samples showed "measurable levels" of methanol, a highly toxic alcohol that can induce comas and cause blindness, officials said. The day care also provided the fluid for testing.

The windshield wiper fluid was bought with several other items on a recent shopping trip, James told The Associated Press. "This product was mistakenly grabbed and thought to be Kool-Aid and put in the refrigerator," she said.

The day care's operator, Carolyn Bynum, was interviewed Friday by child welfare investigators and gave up her license, said Julie Munsell, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Human Services. Bynum declined to comment to the Associated Press.

"She was so upset about what had occurred and she was definitely worried some of the children had been injured," Munsell said. "It was just a mistake, she says. She says it was just a horrible mistake."

Bynum's license had allowed her to care for 10 children in her home in Scott, about 15 miles east of Little Rock. Munsell said Bynum had no found complaints or serious compliance issues in the past.

By surrendering her license, Bynum can no longer care for children without reapplying.

The toxicologist warned that many antifreeze or windshield wiper solutions have bright colors, which can be mistaken for fruit drinks.

"I think the take-home message is not to have these products in the kitchen or where you're doing any kind of food preparation," she said.

[rebabeach2]

Mar. 13, 2009 at 2:22 PM

OMG!!! How scary, I really hope none of those children have any problems after this!

I am wondering how in the world a wiper fluid container could be mistaken for juice though. That seems like a HUGE oversight on the part of the daycare staff!

[p2of9]

Mar. 13, 2009 at 2:25 PM

Were they illiterate? 

[theyareallmine]

Mar. 13, 2009 at 2:28 PM

WoW!!! i hope all the children fully recover with no adverse reactions.

[debmom07]

Mar. 13, 2009 at 2:30 PM

wow this woman is lucky to be alive. that is just sooo scarry. yep thats to many kids if you cant use your brain.

[trepsica]

Mar. 13, 2009 at 9:43 PM

why the fuck would you send a child to a daycare that serves koolaid anyway?

[rebabeach2]

Mar. 14, 2009 at 8:13 PM

why the fuck would you send a child to a daycare that serves koolaid anyway? trepsica

OMG! I have no idea if you are trying to be funny or not, but LMAO!!!

[brees3]

Mar. 15, 2009 at 4:02 PM

what are they idiots, when is the last time kool-aid had a safety cap and foil top? Wow this is appalling. I actually worked as a daycare teacher for years and found that almost all facilities broke state regulations and when they were investigated nothing ever happened. I have seen abuse, false documents and even abuse of my own child while working at the facility. I reported all incidents and all day-cares are still in business. I will NEVER out my children in daycare.