VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — 9 Investigates discovered a Volusia County day care was hit with multiple violations during an inspection last month.
According to authorities, the day care was cited after an inspector found the children were left with an employee who was not certified in CPR.; the only one that was certified at the day care was a 12-year-old volunteer.
According to inspection reports, the Department of Children and Families paid a surprise visit to the Beautiful Beginnings Childcare Center on South Keech Street in Daytona Beach on Oct. 13.
The inspector found the owner, Viola Xavier, was not at the facility, but instead was at a store.
The inspector also commented on the report that Xavier would use her 12-year-old daughter as CPR coverage when she left the day care to run an errand.
The other adult staff member working at the day care was not trained in infant and child CPR.
At the time of the inspection, seven children ranging in ages from infant to toddler were at the day care.
“There are people putting their trust in that facility,” said Bill Stacey, a registered nurse and 30-year CPR instructor.
He said he has trained dozens of day care workers in the area over the years. "The major issue I would have with a 12-year-old being responsible for CPR would be their training and their ability to do the appropriate assessments, and respond to that,” Stacey said.
Channel 9’s Jeff Levkulich confronted Xavier at the day care about the violations.
When Levkulich read her the violation, Xavier said, “No, that's incorrect.”
Levkulich asked her if the state is lying, in which Xavier replied, “I’m saying, no comment.”
The Florida Department of Children and Families stands by its report.
John Harrell, the Northeast Region communications director told 9 Investigates in a statement, “Florida state law requires that child care facilities have at least one qualified employee or volunteer at the facility at all times to be able to provide CPR or First Aid in the event of an emergency. The required qualifications are that they must have completed CPR and First Aid training, they must have gone through a state and national background screening, and they must be aged 16 or older. All violations have since been corrected at Beautiful Beginnings Childcare Center. The latest inspection report was completed on Oct. 27."
Xavier was ordered to pay a $150 fine and could pay more if the same violations are found again during the next two years.
Cox Media Group
