Family of toddler severely burned by bleach in kindergarten gets five-figure payout

The family of a toddler badly burned by bleach in a kindergarten accident have been awarded five figures in compensation.

Blake Nilssen was in the ‘baby room’ of his nursery in Aberdeen, Scotland when he fell over the unattended bucket trying to get up.

The caustic liquid spilled all over him, but when staff noticed this, they did not seek medical advice.

They covered him with paper towels, but when they removed them, they ripped off blisters that began to form.

The Nursing Inspectorate upheld multiple complaints against Little Dreams Nursery School in Aberdeen and ordered supervisors to make immediate changes as a result of the November 4, 2021 incident.

A lawsuit against the facility has now been settled, with Blake’s compensation being held in escrow until he is 16.

Blake’s mother Ellie, 28, said: “At the time I said that incident was unjustifiable and I still feel that way. It really felt like it shocked parents across the country.

“Many people have come forward with concern and support.

“I’m still disappointed with the kindergarten’s reaction to everything. Even when presented with evidence — like photos of my baby with burns and blisters — they tried to deny or downplay their mistakes.”

Blake’s family accused staff of negligence in using boiling water and bleach in the first place, leaving the bucket where a baby could easily reach it, and then failing to call 999.

His parents rushed him to the emergency room upon seeing how badly he was injured, claiming he “lost consciousness a couple of times” along the way.

When he arrived at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, medics repeatedly rinsed Blake for over 90 minutes in a special shower room and monitored his skin’s pH levels.

A plastic surgeon broke open the blisters and treated them with aloe vera gel before bandaging the affected areas.

Blake was also given small doses of morphine to relieve pain and help him sleep while he remained at the ARI for observation.

The next day he was put under general anesthesia for a “skin peel” and his second-degree burns were bandaged with six layers of bandages to aid healing and prevent infection.

Ellie says little Blake, now two, remains uncomfortable around liquids to this day.

She added: “Thankfully Blake has responded well to medical treatment but his recovery is not over yet.

“We’re still seeing some signs of emotional trauma, particularly in the water, but we’re hoping that over time he will calm down and things can improve for him.

“We are grateful to everyone who has helped us from friends and family, to the NHS staff who treated Blake’s injuries, to our legal team who helped hold the nursery accountable.

“Right now as a family we just want to try to put this painful episode behind us and move on, so we request that our privacy be respected now.”

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