Our Smart Baby

In the time it takes to purchase a gallon of milk or a pack of cigarettes, a hot car can turn into a death trap for a child. I live in Texas and the past two days we have been under a heat advisory. Yesterday an innocent three year old little girl lost her life is the result of being trapped in a car. The child was not left in the car, instead had wandered to the car and locked herself in. The unfortunate thing is this happens at least three times a year in the city I live in, alone.

You are probably thinking, what kind of parent would let that happen to a child? I personally have never done it. On the other hand, there are many parents out there in this generation that are very busy. They have so much going on and children easily get lost in the scatter. I don’t believe these parents do it on purpose; they just need to be reminded. They can suffer big consequences, such as involuntary manslaughter or child endangerment. Then the most obvious is could you really live with yourself if your child dies or is permanently brain damaged, for something that could have been prevented?

In the summer months, the temperature inside a parked car can reach above 120 degrees in as little as 10 minutes. Heat exhaustion can occur at temperatures above 90 degrees and heat stroke can occur when the temperature reaches above 105 degrees.

Here are some tips on keeping our children safe. If you see a child in an unattended car, immediately call 911. That call may be the difference between life and death. Check and make sure all children leave the vehicle when you get to your destination. Don’t leave any child behind. Make sure that unoccupied cars are locked, so that children do not become trapped inside.

Remember parents, our children depend on us to keep them safe. Watch out for other children left alone in cars as well as your own. Hot cars and children can become a life and death situation for a child.

By: Natasha Browning