HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A southwest Houston mother says staff at her eight-year-old daughter’s school failed to call 911 when she suffered an asthma attack and lost consciousness.
“Negligent at its finest,” Kahtoyha Barnes said. “Child neglect.”
Barnes’ daughter, Kyrie Randall, says she was running at the playground on Friday at KIPP Mosaic when she suffered an asthma attack.
“I took a breath, and then that was my last breath, and then I just took to my knees, and I fell,” she told Eyewitness News.
Barnes said school staff first called Kyrie’s father. When they finally reached her, she said there didn’t appear to be any sense of urgency.
“‘Yes, mom. We have her in the office now. She’s been going in and out of consciousness, but the nurse isn’t here,'” Barnes recounted.
“I proceed to say, ‘Well, did you call 911?’ It was a brief pause. ‘Uh, no.'”
KIPP released the following statement:
“At KIPP Texas, the safety of our students is our top priority. On Friday, December 12, a student at KIPP Mosaic Primary suffered a medical incident on the playground. School officials evaluated the situation and contacted the parent. EMS responded and provided care. The school will continue to work with the family to ensure a medical plan is in place for the student. In accordance with federal privacy laws and to protect the student, KIPP cannot comment further on details.”
The statement doesn’t specify who contacted EMS, and KIPP didn’t respond to a follow-up question asking if any school employees had called them.
Barnes said it was her mother who called.
“I called my mom. ‘Mom, it’s an emergency at KIPP. Kyrie’s in and out of consciousness. Call 911.’ She’s like, ‘What’s going on?’ ‘I don’t have time to talk. Call them, so I can call back to the school,'” she said.
When Barnes got to the school on Friday, she claims the apathy continued.
“I’m freaked out at this point. I’m freaked out. I’m yelling, cursing. ‘Where’s the asthma pump?'”
Kyrie was ultimately taken to the hospital and released with a heart monitor, which she now wears daily.
While KIPP said it plans to work with her family on a medical plan, Barnes said Kyrie has had a plan on file since she enrolled at the school for Pre-K, but that it wasn’t followed on Friday.
“I want accountability. I want jobs. I want criminal charges pressed,” she said.
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