Child dies after being left in Arkansas clinic van

Ex-employee said it was common practice to check the vans three times after children were taken off


A 5-year-old died after being left in a van in a children's health clinic parking lot in West Memphis, Ark, for eight hours, according to an article on the WMCA website. 

The van arrived at the facility at 7:20 a.m. The boy was found dead in a booster seat more than 8 hours later. Sources said a driver and another adult were in the van and the child was signed into the facility even though he was still in the van.

The former employee said she worked at the facility six months ago and it was common practice for staff to check the vans three times after children were taken out of the vehicle. 

She also said there is paperwork employees must fill out when checking a child in and that at least two adults were required to be in the van at all times.

Read the article.

 

 



June 19, 2017


Topic Area: Safety


Recent Posts

Balancing Act: Designing for Safety and Flexibility

By understanding NFPA 99 requirements, facilities can be better designed to meet current needs and anticipate future challenges.


Methodist Healthcare Breaks Ground on Methodist ER Medina Valley

Construction began in March 2026 and is projected for completion by March 2027.


Fire Protection in Healthcare: Why Active and Passive Systems Must Work as One

Sprinklers, smoke compartments and firestopping can form an interdependent safety strategy.


Building Envelope Design: Beyond Energy Efficiency

An integrated approach to envelope design can create more comfortable and energy-efficient hospitals.


Outpatient Surge Reshapes Long-Term Strategy for Medical Outpatient Buildings

Demographic tailwinds, policy uncertainty and shifting care models are pushing health systems to rethink how and where they invest in outpatient facilities.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.