Topic: 42 Children Died of Heatstroke- Hot Cars- 2017
Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Reminder...
QUOTE- "A child's body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult's. When a child is left in a hot vehicle, that child's temperature can rise in a quick and deadly manner. In 2017, 42 children died of vehicular heatstroke."
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- These tragedies are much more complex than we might first think, too. In addition to the poor babes, are the other kids one might have in the family and - with empathy, most of the adults involved.
For to have one's very awareness betray them . . . their memory, their brain's hold on a force of habit (to the extent that that just one thing different has them totally forgetting the child in the car) . . . I think of when I was still undiagnosed with lyme, TBD and while I did not have or leave a child in a hot or cold car . . .
literally, I forgot how to drive - how to shift to stop my automatic transmission car - while, uh - still driving. I forgot, too, what the colors of the traffic lights meant.
More than once I lost my car in a parking slot - sometimes not even recalling having driven down that particular street.
It's no secret that many with lyme -- or even not - have cognitive disconnects with memory.
In addition to the very practical methods for remembering a child in a car seat (say, putting one of your shoes in the back seat by the child so you have to reach back before you can walk away) . . .
we also need to study the brain. What kinds of metabolic issues might those who find themselves in this position have been exhibiting? It's vital that this aspect of brain & habit science be explored as part of the prevention plan moving forward. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- So that more might see this, pulling from your link::
EIGHT SIMPLE STEPS TO PREVENT HEATSTROKE DEATHS.
Never leave a child in a vehicle unattended—even if the windows are partially open or the engine is running, and the air conditioning is on
Make a habit of looking in the vehicle—front and back—before locking the door and walking away
Ask the childcare provider to call if the child doesn’t show up for care as expected
Place your purse or briefcase in the back seat to ensure your child isn't accidentally left in the vehicle
Write a note or place a stuffed animal in the passenger's seat to remind you that a child is in the vehicle
Teach children that a vehicle is not a play area and store keys out of a child's reach
If you see a child alone in a locked car, get them out immediately and call 911
A child in distress due to heat should be removed from the vehicle as quickly as possible and rapidly cooled -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- I'm not sure this one would always work, though. How many "post-it" notes do we just not see anymore.
" . . . Write a note or place a stuffed animal in the passenger's seat to remind you that a child is in the vehicle . . . ."
But - be sure that stuffed animal is ONLY in the front seat with you when the child is in the car. Put it in the empty baby car seat as its place holder at other times.
Putting the stuffed animal on a leash attached to you, your briefcase or bag . . . would be an added memory step. You would not be able to walk away without handling the stuffed animal and that likely would bring anyone out of the kinds of "trance" that can happen with forgetfulness.
Otherwise, it might just go blank in your mind's eye over time. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- When a child in the car seat or even an older small child (whatever their age) in the back seat who could fall quietly asleep . . .
Have a sort of ribbon "leash" that is always attached to you that is tied to the back seat near the child but out of their reach so as not to interfere with driving if they pull.
As you go to leave, your awareness will be pulled by the "leash" -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
No matter what method for remembering is in place, the people who forget that their child is in the car, will forget to use the method. Sad but true.
Not saying there is nothing to be done, but there has to be something in the car itself, a monitor, if you will, when something weighted is placed on the seat that you manually have to shut off (i.e. I have a bunch of boxes of stuff that I'm dropping off somewhere else) that reminds you there is weight in the back seat.
Even then, these same people who can forget their child will just silence the alarm and go on their way.
-------------------- I still have a good time wherever I go! Posts: 138 | From Lost Wages | Registered: Oct 2016
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posted
Well, my friend ended up calling the police and then restraining the mother to wait for them.
She had just gotten the 3 yr old out of the car (he opened the door for her) and the mother showed up. The mother thought she was stealing her kids so she hit my friend in the eye.
My friend is not (yet) filing charges for that since she knows the woman was protecting her kids.
CPS was called and I guess the police took her in. She had left a 1 yr old and 3 yr old in the car to shop in Kohl's. Real important, ya know.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Bartenderbonnie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 49177
posted
You must get involved, call authorities.
It's a matter of life or death,
Same goes for our furry friends, 🐈🐶🐩🐕🐱
Posts: 3221 | From Florida | Registered: Nov 2016
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
That makes me sick Tutu.
I am so glad your friend intervened. Sorry your friend was attacked for her/his efforts.
I hope no one ever hesitates to break into a car under these circumstances.
posted
Then the next day a 4 yr old died from having been left in the car last week in CT.
It reinforced that my friend had done the right thing. She still has a black eye but is so thankful God placed her in the right place at the right time.
So many things could have changed WHERE she was that day, but God had it figured out.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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