I am talking about the number of instances of babies and small children left to bake to death in a sealed up vehicle in the hot sun. This is not even conceivable to me as a possibility. How can anyone "forget" a child left in a car? No one I have ever known is that cavalier with the care of their child let alone the need to constantly know the child's whereabouts, especially babies. While the annual number is not large it is exponentially horrific as the only hope or help a child (baby) has is it's implicit trust in it's parents (or other caregivers).
So far in 2013 there have been 24 deaths of children left in hot cars. Well on pace to exceed last year's 33.
The latest was this four-month old baby in El Cajon, CA
Quick Stats:
- Total number of U.S. heatstroke deaths of children left in cars, 2013: 24
- Total number of U.S. heatstroke deaths of children left in cars, 2012: 33
- Total number of U.S. heatstroke deaths of children left in cars, 1998-present: 585
- Average number of U.S. child heatstroke fatalities per year since 1998: 37
Please check out this study of this tragic event:
http://www.ggweather.com/heat/
I look in every car I pass when I am going into any store, restaurant, etc. I have gone in and told management many times about animals left in closed up cars.
Sadly, when you look at that link above, my state of Texas is the worst offender in the nation. It is not a secret it is really hot and sweltering here in the summer and late into the fall.
Get a grip people! Stop the needless death of our children.
Oh yeah, action on this would save more kids lives than any gun control crap! Oops, off-topic.
Help me keep an eye out.
10 comments:
I don't understand how someone could forget a kid in a car either. Of course, I don't understand how people could forget them at home or abuse them either. How could someone be so cruel or indifferent towards another human being, let alone their own flesh and blood?
Hi Chuck .. that's dreadful ..
Horrifies me .. Hilary
Yes, really awful, not to forget, never, never have to leave a baby alone in the car, because we know what can happen and if we can return!
Great post Chuck! I feel the same way. People are so darn stupid!
My wife is a terrorist when it comes to this. She doesn't even bother telling people in the businesses about it, she calls 911! One time the cops were taking too long to get there and she told me to bust out a car window. That is what I did. The kids were so hot and out of it that they didn't even freak out when I did it. The cops still weren't there when the lady who owned the car and kids came out. She wasn't happy with us and threatened to call the cops. My wife told here not to bother, they were already on the way. Then the lady wanted to get the hell out of there in a hurry. She took her keys out of her purse and and my wife snatched them out of her hand. My wife and her almost came to blows. Good thing for the lady they didn't. The cops finally got there and gave the sow a ticket, summons, or something that made the lady very unhappy. The cops told us that "you can't keep a person against their will, so next time tell them you are making a citizens arrest first and do what you gotta do."
We haven't run into another situation since then. EARTHLINGS ARE STUPID!"
It sickens me that people would be so downright ignorant as to leave a child (or an animal!) locked in a vehicle in hot weather. The fact they'd leave a child unattended beggars belief, regardless of the temperature.
I hope the so-called parents were brought to book and the full weight of the law thrown at them!
But then, sometimes I wonder at parents/adults who allow children to ride without any sort of seatbelt or restraint. I'm sure they'd secure a precious item (e.g.a Ming vase or a piece of furniture)to save damage, but they'd let an infinitely more precious item (ie. a child) roll around or hang out of the window...! In a road-traffic accident an unrestrained child (or pet!) can become a violent projectile caused by the impact - injuring not only themselves but whoever else they may crash into!
Chuck, I agree. Cannot imagine anyone leaving a child in a sweltering vehicle. However, I wonder if some of it is ignorance of what can happen. Am glad that people like you are checking vehicles in parking lots!
Thanks for writing about this terrible plight for children and animals!
Mary Montague Sikes
I agree. People shouldn't put children and pets in cars if they can't take them outside.
It's just cruel.
I hear ya!!! Why just the other day, for some reason the child was unruly...inside the bank. And the mother took it outside and started strapping it in its child seat in the back of the vehicle...I was watching the whole scenario...had my phone on with 91 already dialed. I was ready to report and then step out and intervene if necessary!!
But she [the mother I assume] drove off.
Good informative post. This news is alarming. I must have much more concern over my dog than some people have for their kids. Cody always goes in the car with me but not on these outrageously hot days.
Break a window, save a life. I haven't noticed any little ones in the parking lots around here, but I keep an eye out too.
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