Daycare dismissed a 4-year-old’s swollen hand as a splinter and skipped calling 911 — what his aunt later discovered was far more terrifying
When young children get hurt at daycare, parents and guardians expect they'll be notified promptly and that staff will act quickly if the injury appears serious. That's why one North Carolina family's account of what unfolded after a 4-year-old was injured at his daycare has sparked concern. WSOC-TV9 reported on the incident on September 5, 2025. The staff initially thought the boy had a splinter and didn't call 911. However, his guardian later noticed something more worrisome and headed to the hospital.
The boy had been playing in the yard near a sandbox at New Beginnings Child Enrichment Center when he suffered the injury. The child's aunt, Brook Cooper, who is his guardian, initially received a call saying staff believed he might have a splinter or possibly a broken hand. But when she arrived at the daycare, she learned something far more alarming. The director revealed that the 4-year-old had actually been bitten by a venomous copperhead snake. Cooper said the revelation came as a shock. "My first thought was, 'Why didn't they call 911?'" Alexander County officials later confirmed to WSOC-TV that they had not received a 911 call about the incident.
Family members rushed the boy to the hospital themselves, where he received treatment for the bite. According to the daycare, a staff member later found and killed the copperhead snake before the children returned to the playground. According to PEOPLE, Tiffany Robinson, owner and co-director of New Beginnings Child Enrichment Center, shared in a statement that the staff initially believed the child had a splinter from the mulch after noticing him shaking his hand during outdoor play. However, the mulch was made from rubber, and so the idea of a splinter didn't make sense. That's when they decided to examine the injury and realized it was a snakebite, called the guardian back right away, and asked her to pick up the 4-year-old. She added that the playground was secured while the creature was removed and said the center is taking additional steps with local professionals to improve outdoor safety.
Alexander County officials mentioned that while first responders do not carry antivenom, they routinely respond to snake bites and can begin medical care before patients reach a hospital, making an immediate 911 call an important part of the emergency response. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 7,000 to 8,000 people in the U.S. are bitten by venomous snakes every year. While fatalities are rare, experts say prompt medical treatment and antivenom, when appropriate, can significantly reduce complications and improve recovery, underscoring why rapid emergency response is recommended.