7 mo. old dies in car

Kelmarwil

So, leaving my babysitter's house, I was joking around because my H and I alternate who drops her off about how I'm terrified one of these days I'm going to go straight to work and forget she is in the backseat. Then she informs me someone here in Houston just did that with their baby. 

https://blog.chron.com/jimadler/2012/05/hot-car-kills-another-baby/

It's so incredibly sad, but I cannot think of actually doing it. I think about her all the time at work, so even if I did, I'd imagine it'd take me all of five minutes before I'm running out to my car. He apparently did not remember until his wife called asking where the baby was and if he had dropped him off at daycare. How long after going to work was that? Then again, as they said, it can only take about an hour for the car to get to extremely high temperatures. Just something to start thinking about, especially those from hotter states. I literally just cried thinking about it while feeding her. She finished eating, smiled at me, and snuggled into my chest asleep, so trusting, so loving. I cannot imagine the grief.

mamacat123

That story is horrifying. I heard about something similar that happened a few years ago-the father forgot the baby was in the backseat because he had fallen asleep. We all joke about sleep deprivation but it can lead to serious mistakes. I for one will heed the advice of the article and now put my diaper bag and/or purse in the backseat with the baby! 

SoonToBeMsP

Sadly this happens at least a few times a year in my area. I hate seeing those news reports because it IS so preventable... Sad. So sad.

sweetky_06

Yup - same thing happened near me last summer. So incredibly sad - so easily can be prevented by putting your laptop/purse/lunch/etc. in the backseat so that you have to open the backseat up when you arrive at your destination.

elsINlb

This is so devastating. I found this online, the numbers are crazy!

Most people don't realize how hot it can get in a parked car on a balmy day. However, on a 78 degree day, temperatures in a car parked in the shade can exceed 90 degrees -- and hit a scorching 160 degrees if parked in the sun!

Even when the outside air temperature is in the 60s, temperatures inside some vehicles can reach the danger zone on bright, sunny days. So many experts recommend not to leave pets or children in parked cars even for short periods if the temperature is in the 60s or higher.

 I see pets left in cars all the time and I live in SoCal, where we rarely have days where it's cool enough to do that. "But it was only for a few minutes while I ran inside the store, and I rolled the windows down..."  I call animal control every time. I'd like to stick the owner/parent in the car for a "few minutes" and see how they feel.

 

 

BritanyV

Unfortunately, this happens more times than anyone would like to think.   That is not the first time it has happened in Houston either.  I can think of at least 5 stories off the top of my head from the past couple of years and I don't watch the news so it could be more!

SuperDuperGirl23

there was a story a few weeks ago about an 18 month old. i cried watching the news. it's always so tragic seeing those but now that I'm a mom it seems so much heavier.

megaloo27

My dad forgot my brother in the car when they lived in Houston, thankfully he was ok. My dad cried all night long and still to this day feels guilty about it. So many people think this couldn't happen to them, but it really can happen to anyone.