Toddler burned by boiling bleach at nursery ‘faces being scarred for life’
The parents of a toddler left permanently scarred by boiling hot bleach are considering legal action against the nursery where the incident occurred.
Blake nilssen suffered second degree burns after toppling an unattended cleaning bucket while trying to stand up at the Little Dreams Nursery in Aberdeen. His suffering worsened after staff covered him in paper towels and, when they removed them, it ripped off blisters that started to form. the tot was also denied treatment for an hour because staff waited for parents to collect him instead of calling for an ambulance.
The Care Inspectorate has now upheld multiple complaints against the nursery and ordered bosses to make immediate changes.
Blake’s family is considering legal action and issued a warning to parents over fears of a repeat tragedy. The tot’s mother, Ellie Johnson, said: “Blake faces being scarred for life. Little Dreams Nursery should be closed. This is utterly indefensible.”
Blake was injured on Thursday, November 4, in the ‘baby room’ he had attended since April three days per week. Ms Johnson, who runs her own beauty business, dropped blake off at 9.30am but, at 3.45pm, was told to collect her son as he “managed to tip a bucket of water on himself ”. the 27- year old said :“They said the water had a bit of bleach in it but that was it. They didn’t say the water was boiling.”
Ms Johnson and partner Darylnilssen,a31-year-oldoffshore worker, only realised things were serious on arrival at the nursery. She said: “We opened the door and heard the most horrific screaming. It was chilling. Then we realised it came from our little boy..”
The parents saw Blake stripped to his nappy and vest with his limbs covered in cling filmandpapertowels.msjohnsonsaid:“hewasscreaming,his skin was red all over and there was an overwhelming smell of bleach with liquid running down his legs and arms from burst blisters. I screamed at the staff, grabbed Blake and drove to A&E. .”
At Aberdeen Royal Infirmary medics repeatedly rinsed blake in a special shower room before a plastic surgeon burst the blisters and treated them with aloe vera gel. Blake was also given small doses of morphine to ease the pain and he was detained for observation. The next day he given a general anaesthetic for a “skin scrub”. Ms Johnson added :“blake is now on the road to recovery. But we still don’t have answers to the most obvious question – why was a bucket with boiling bleach left in a baby room? this wasn’ t an accident–it was blatant negligence. Daryl and I debated about next steps but we felt a sense of duty to highlight what happened so parents and other nurseries can be more mindful.”
The couple made 10 complaints to the Care Inspectorate which prompted an immediate on-site inspection. eight requirements were ordered by the Inspectorate against the nursery, including making sure staff are first-aid trained and aware of emergency procedures.
Neil Davidson, Partner at Digby Brown Solicitors in Aberdeen, is now supporting the Blake’s family.
A little dreams spokesperson said: “We won’t be making any comment at this time.”