child safety

[amoLucia]

Watching TV and they're talking about another little one having died after being forgotten in a hot locked car. Sixteen deaths so far this year - even one is too much!

Any suggestions to pass on to help prevent this tragedy. I was thinking there's GOT to be something out there to help.

Auto makers have installed all kinds of bells & whistles for luxury things in cars - why can't they come up with some kind of alarm or some electronic chip on the baby seat that connects to baby seat and the dash or driver's seatbelt. A mini baby cam?

Boy, if some engineer or even some really bright inventor could come up with something and patent it, what a blessing for preventing such a tragic accident.

[laKrugRN]

I tell people to throw their purse or one of their shoes in the backseat next to the corificeat. They need their shoe and purse to go wherever they are going. They will look back be like, "oh my baby is here." UGH. This angers me SOOOO much. I call the police if I see pets or children in hot cars. I don't care who I get in trouble. People need to THINK.

[toomuchbaloney]

My children are adults now.

Back in the 80's my spouse was out of town on business when our oldest was not yet one. The very first time that I had to make that child drop I forgot. I was distracted by an issue that was brought to my attention just before I left the house. I put the child in the car seat and made my 40 minute commute to work while the baby slept and I pondered a work issue. I parked my car in the lot, got out and locked the doors. Fortunately the baby woke up at that point and made a noise as I walked by the rear door. I cannot say that I wouldn't have gotten all the way into the facility without realizing my horrifying mistake. I was distracted, it was not my usual duty, and those kids are so danged quiet when they sleep. In this instance, my baby would have frozen to death rather than suffered in the heat. There but for the grace of God...

[NanikRN]

I know someone this happened to. The father isn't a bad parent. He had a million things going on, in a rush, out of routine and baby was quiet and asleep. He didn't put wallet in back seat cause he knew he wouldn't forget child.

He is a good parent ,smart ,educated , one of our young doctors. But he did forget the baby in car for over an hour and has never forgiven himself since. He questions his judgement and ability as a father frequently because of this occurrence although it was years ago and there was no lasting damage to the child

Thinking 'this could never happen to me' is exactly what DOES makes it able to happen.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

seems like there should be a type of sensor that picks up cries or human voice (or animals!) and will automatically lower the windows. Should not have override ability, however.

[VampyrSlayer, CNA]

There was a device made a few years ago to remind people about the baby in the back seat, but it wasn't approved (by whoever approves these things...dot?). Ludicrous

[sandyfeet]

The problem with leaving a shoe or a purse in the backseat (or a diaper bag in the front) is that the parent has to have the foresight to arrange it that way. Excluding negligent parents, the problem with forgetting your child in the car seems to be one of multitasking and distraction. Someone is in a hurry and is not going to take the 10 seconds to throw their purse in the back because they are focused on completing some other goal.

I am currently pregnant so this is a hot topic for me. Maybe a sensor in the back seat that registers weight (like a car seat) and alerts you when you open your door? Like how my car tells me to buckle up my heavy work bag when I put it in the passenger seat?

[wooh, BSN, RN]

The problem with leaving a shoe or a purse in the backseat (or a diaper bag in the front) is that the parent has to have the foresight to arrange it that way

Well and to do so, they also have to admit that it COULD happen to them. And so many parents are of the attitude, "I'd NEVER forget my child!"

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

Working in a medical daycare has made me cognizant of counting people as well...I don't even like to get into the car without ALL children, regardless of age are in first, as well as double check when all kids are out and lined up.

Overkill perhaps, but then the power of habit...

[Delicate Flower]

There have been several cases this year (and in previous years) where the child -typically 3 to 5 year old - gets into the hot car themselves and for what ever reason they either can't or don't get out before it's too late. It's not too hard for me to imagine a pre schooler sneaking out of the house and into the car while the caregiver dozes off or takes a shower or even just uses the toilet. Depending on the temperature and other factors, 10 minutes may be long enough to cause serious damage.

After seeing the news, I talked to my boys about never, ever going to the car without mom or dad! I made them promise. I also made my husband promise to start keeping the car doors locked - we live in the country so we were not locking up routinely.