Leaving a child in the car...WTF???

[KFC911]

It's plastered all over the local news (Amber Alert). Sleeping toddler is left in the back of an SUV, unlocked with the keys in the ignition while parent runs into the grocery to grab an item or two (just down the street from where I live). Care to guess what happens next? Some people...I just don't get it

[shadowjack1]

Some people are to stupid to have children. This is one of them.

[GH85Carrera]

It happens in every state a few times a year. Amazing.

[Rick Lee]

Around here it's a death sentence for the child. Happened just last week to a three mos old infant. Dad left him in closed up car for over an hour in this heat. Happens regularly and nothing chaps my ass more than reading about it.

[Laneco]

Not one time...not for one moment. Not ever.

That is the easy-to-understand rule at Casa de Lane.

angela

[sc_rufctr]

Late last year it happened locally in the Casino car park... 9 months old and she didn't make it.

[Rick Lee]

The #1 cause of death for kids in AZ is drowning their parents' swimming pools. I have to think dying in a baking car is not too far down that list. Happens here a lot.

[tweezers74]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

The #1 cause of death for kids in AZ is drowning their parents' swimming pools. I have to think dying in a baking car is not too far down that list. Happens here a lot.

Never leave the boys by themselves near the pool. Ever. Even though older son is almost eight and swims/dives like a fish. Never have left the boys in the car. Even though my older son is almost eight. This is one of the things my ex and I have discussions about. He thinks it is ok if he is just running in to drop off a movie. Me? Never. I don't even let my boys walk down the next aisle at the grocery store. I always remember Adam.

I could never fathom losing my child. It would be the death of me.

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by KC911

It's plastered all over the local news (Amber Alert). Sleeping toddler is left in the back of an SUV, unlocked with the keys in the ignition while parent runs into the grocery to grab an item or two (just down the street from where I live). Care to guess what happens next? Some people...I just don't get it

Considering you said it's an amber alert, I assume that what really happened is that someone jacked the car with the kid inside, not that the kid died from the heat.

We were left in the car all of the time, we came out just fine. I wouldn't do it when it's over 90 degrees or so, but 5 minutes in the car with the windows down? No problem.

The problem is the scum that decide that they can just take a car.

[Christien]

Originally Posted by tweezers74

I don't even let my boys walk down the next aisle at the grocery store.

Really? I don't know how old your other kid is, but that's exactly the kind of thing I do on purpose with our 7 year old, to teach her independence. She knows how to deal with strangers and she's never out of earshot. I let her use public washrooms by herself (depending on where, of course) and I'll stand outside and wait for her, things like that.

But I would never leave them alone in the car in the heat without the car running and the a/c on, which means it wouldn't be for anything more than pulling over to the side of the road and dropping a letter in the mailbox.

[vash]

i am not a parent..

so i dont know squat about it. (there is a nice debate going on about this, in case you missed it )

not so sure something clicks and turns on in your brain turning you into a super parent. but i can see this happening.

i watched some interview of some lady (maybe it was a dad) that did it. killed the baby. she said she (he) was exhausted, in a hurry..running late, and the poor kid was just sleeping quietly. i do think it was the dad, now that i am thinking about it. this was not a normal routine. poor baby..but people forget things all the time.

the consequences just so horrific.

[Hugh R]

Bought an IR Thermometer for work this week. I pointed at the interior of my light colored Camry and it read 145F.

[Rick Lee]

I came out of a restaurant around lunchtime last week and there was a police car parked next to my bike. It was scorching hot out and there was no shade. Police car had a "K-9" decal on the door and I felt my BP start to rise while walking to my bike. The windows were so darkened, that I couldn't see if a dog was in it. But then, when traffic noise died down, I could hear the car was running. I was looking around in the windows when the cop came from behind the bldg. and got in and drove off.

[masraum]

It's very common to see police cars with canines, but I've never seen one that wasn't left running with the AC on.

[tweezers74]

Originally Posted by Christien

Really? I don't know how old your other kid is, but that's exactly the kind of thing I do on purpose with our 7 year old, to teach her independence. She knows how to deal with strangers and she's never out of earshot. I let her use public washrooms by herself (depending on where, of course) and I'll stand outside and wait for her, things like that.

But I would never leave them alone in the car in the heat without the car running and the a/c on, which means it wouldn't be for anything more than pulling over to the side of the road and dropping a letter in the mailbox.

My other son is 5. I let my other son go off by himself as long as he checks in with me every 10 minutes or so, or if i can still keep my eye on him. I would rather be safe than sorry.

[Christien]

Originally Posted by masraum

It's very common to see police cars with canines, but I've never seen one that wasn't left running with the AC on.

This drives me nuts. All over we see signs (and in some cities, bylaws) prohibiting idling, how it's a waste of gas, pollutes the environment, etc. but cops do it all the time.

[Don Ro]

Originally Posted by Christien

This drives me nuts. All over we see signs (and in some cities, bylaws) prohibiting idling, how it's a waste of gas, pollutes the environment, etc. but cops do it all the time.

Oh Brother!

[RWebb]

so, should we ban cars?

or just non-convertibles?

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by RWebb

so, should we ban cars?

or just non-convertibles?

Let's ban stupidity.

[RWebb]

by saving the child, we are reducing the selection pressure against stupidity