1 year-Old Dies after choking on watermelon at Georgia daycare facility

BRUNSWICK, Georgia –  Grieving parents are speaking out on the death of their 16-month-old son, who died at a Georgia daycare facility.

“Sometimes I don’t feel anything, and then the next minute, I’m breaking down again,” Taylor Hicks, the child’s mother, said.

Hicks and her partner, Jamal Bryant, have been going through a roller coaster of heartbreaking emotions since Tuesday.

That’s when they found out one of their children, 16-month-old Jamal Allen Bryant Jr., died.

“He was full of energy. He was full of life,” Jamal Bryant described.

They were asked to rush to the hospital. The young boy was there after choking on watermelon he was eating.

Police stated that the facility staff attempted to aid the child before he was transported to the hospital. However, the family is questioning this account due to past issues documented in reports from the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning. These reports revealed instances where the facility failed to meet first aid and CPR standards.

A portion of the explanation provided by the state agency mentioned that the assessment of first aid and CPR was deferred during follow-up visits, leaving it to be evaluated during the next unannounced regulatory inspection.

Following the tragedy, the family has not received any communication from the owners of the childcare facility. Jamal Bryant, speaking on behalf of the family, expressed a desire for preventative measures to ensure similar incidents do not occur in the future.

Bryant emphasized the importance of parents conducting thorough research before enrolling their children in any childcare facility. He urged parents to verify the facility’s licensure status, confirm that all staff are adequately trained, and inquire about staff-to-child ratios, as outlined on the Georgia Division of Family & Children Services website.

Jamal Bryant Jr.’s parents said that will help prevent potential heartache.

“Don’t take life for granted,” Jamal Bryant said.

“And hug your babies every day,” Hicks added.