SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - It’s been almost a year since 16-month-old Jamal Bryant Jr. died in a Georgia day care. He choked on watermelon back last May.

Now, a new bill could put safety measures in place for Georgia childcare centers and homes to prevent future tragedies.

“It’s very upsetting,” said Laukik Patel, owner, Angel Learning Center.

Laukik Patel is a childcare provider with locations in Atlanta, Valdosta and right here in our area. But he’s also a father.

“I have two children of my own,” said Patel. “One six months and the other one is two and a half. So I have to look at it as both an operator and a parent.”

He said after hearing about the incident in Brunswick last year, he ramped up safety at his centers.

MORE FROM NEWS 12

Georgia: Latest from the state Capitol

“First thing we saw was the food sizes,” said Patel. “The issue in Brunswick was that there was a seed. So the first thing, I went through the food menus and making sure that we don’t have any fruits or vegetables that have seeds and that way it can be an obstruction to the children.”

This bill, sponsored by Georgia Representative Rick Townsend would require that centers and homes keep at least one portable airway clearance device for choking.

Patel said he put these in his centers after the Brunswick incident.

“It’s secured into the child’s opening and it is basically you’re pulling it out when using negative pressure,” said Patel.

The bill will also require that employees working with children be CPR certified within 45 days of their employment.

Ayanna Cunningham, the center director at Angel Learning Center, hopes that if this bill passes, there will be more support statewide.

“It is really hard sometimes because there are not enough staff available to enough CPR and first aid trainers out there,” said Cunningham. “For the amount of childcare centers we have in the area, there is not enough.”

Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.