Incident investigation·February 13, 2026

On 2/13/25 at 1:35, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Veronica Martinez (Diaz) conducted a Case Management\342\200\223Incident inspection at the Child Care Center (CCC) to follow up on an Unusual Incident Report (UIR) received by the Department on 01/22/26. The reported incident involved a child in care (C1) who reportedly got hand sanitizer in their left eye, resulting in irritation and the need for medical attention. LPA met with Director Hope Gonzales to discuss the purpose of the inspection. At the time of the inspection, there were 12 children and 3 staff present. The Director reported that C1 sustained left eye irritation after pumping hand sanitizer without supervision, which splashed into C1\342\200\231s left eye. The Director stated that around 9:45 AM, following morning outdoor play, C1 was instructed to wash their hands. The Director reported that C1 was taken to the sink, where the eye was flushed with water, and a wet paper towel was applied. The Director stated that staff member S1 and director reported the incident to the parent at approximately 3:00 PM during pickup. The Director further stated that C1 did not display signs of discomfort throughout the remainder of the day and continued to participate in normal activities. However, after pickup, C1 informed the parent that their eye was hurting. The parent took C1 to the emergency room, where medication was prescribed due to the incident. CONT 809-C LPA and the Director discussed the importance of active supervision and ensuring that hazardous items and toxins are inaccessible and out of reach of children. The Director stated that the hand sanitizer has since been removed and will no longer be used at the CCC to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. LPA investigated the incident through interviews and record review. Based on the information obtained, the incident did occur and posed a potential risk to the health and safety of children in care. Following the incident, C1 remains enrolled at the CCC. During today\342\200\231s inspection, technical violation was provided. An exit interview was conducted, and the report was reviewed with Director Hope Gonzales. A Notice of Site Visit was provided and must remain posted for 30 days.