Stats on kids dying in parked cars outrageous
Submitted by laboroflove on Fri, 08/15/2008 - 19:14.
Have you ever left your child in your parked car alone?
I was reading an article online yesterday about the hundreds of children who have lost their lives because it was not convenient for their parent to bring them inside while they ran their quick errand. The statistics are horrifying. State and federal governments are responding with laws against leaving young children unattended in parked cars. Fourteen states have laws on the books with another 15 states with proposed legislation, according to kidsandcars.org, a child advocacy and prevention organization. (In New England, only CT and RI have laws against leaving children in parked cars.)
Have you ever run in to the post office or the convenience store while your baby slept? I have to admit, a couple times I have. One time when Wyatt was sleeping after a long, long stint without sleeping, I didn’t want to wake him up. I parked right in front of the window of the fish market and ran in to make a quick purchase, while watching most of the time. It didn’t feel dangerous then, but it did the time I spotted a huge tent sale and decided to stop while the baby slept. It was hot so I left the air conditioning on and parked right next to the tent. The only problem was, I locked the door. Yep, feeling pathetic and scared, I called the police and asked for help. They came fast, unlocked my car and I gratefully, jumped back in the car and drove away with the baby still sleeping.
That was the last time I left my precious one unattended in the car. Apparently, so many parents are doing this with far graver results than I experienced. What do you think?
Have you ever left your child in your parked car alone?
I was reading an article online yesterday about the hundreds of children who have lost their lives because it was not convenient for their parent to bring them inside while they ran their quick errand. The statistics are horrifying. State and federal governments are responding with laws against leaving young children unattended in parked cars. Fourteen states have laws on the books with another 15 states with proposed legislation, according to kidsandcars.org, a child advocacy and prevention organization. (In New England, only CT and RI have laws against leaving children in parked cars.)
Have you ever run in to the post office or the convenience store while your baby slept? I have to admit, a couple times I have. One time when Wyatt was sleeping after a long, long stint without sleeping, I didn’t want to wake him up. I parked right in front of the window of the fish market and ran in to make a quick purchase, while watching most of the time. It didn’t feel dangerous then, but it did the time I spotted a huge tent sale and decided to stop while the baby slept. It was hot so I left the air conditioning on and parked right next to the tent. The only problem was, I locked the door. Yep, feeling pathetic and scared, I called the police and asked for help. They came fast, unlocked my car and I gratefully, jumped back in the car and drove away with the baby still sleeping.
That was the last time I left my precious one unattended in the car. Apparently, so many parents are doing this with far graver results than I experienced. What do you think?
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Over Cautious
I think leaving my child in the car is one of my biggest phobia/over cautious mommy moments. I'm so bad I don't even leave him in the car at the gas station if I go in to pay for gas. Though I have to admit I often leave him and my grandmother in the car together, air conditioning and music on, when I make a quick run into the grocery store for milk or one or two items I need.
No babies in cars
Anne,
I would not leave my dog alone in the car, never mind a baby. That is the height of being irresponsible in my book.
Sad state of affairs
I know. This situation is sad and getting sadder by the minute. Who would think parents, many of whom police call loving parents, could leave a child behind in a hot vehicle for longer than 10 minutes, while they die of heat exposure? I dunno? It's beyond belief, really.
Anne Murray Mozingo