Sgtsnake

How the hell does his even happen? You thought you dropped your child off at daycare then forgot?


http://fox8.com/2016/05/11/girl-2-found-dead-in-backseat-of-moms-car-in-apparent-tragic-accident/

Giantrobo

As a parent that is some scary shit. We need to be PRESENT in our loved one's lives....

Trevor

This happens all the time. It could happen to any of us. Feel horrible for the family and have no idea what the right punishment/solution is.

Grubert

Pulitzer-prize-winning article on parents forgetting their young children in hot cars.

TGM

Darwinsim.

Cardsfan111

In this particular situation, it's too bad that the daycare didn't make any effort to contact the family when the child didn't show up that day. Perhaps they did make an attempt, or maybe it's too much to expect. I just know I get a call if my children are absent from public school and I haven't called to report it. A similar call here might have saved a young life.

Draven

As a parent myself, I would always put my hand in the car seat before getting out of the car at work. Like OCD level - I knew the kid wasn't there and I still did it every single time. Because I know I would be capable of doing something like this.

It's hard to explain but you get into a routine, and sometimes those kids can be very quiet. I'm not excusing it - I can just see how those pieces could all come together.

movieguru

It's not really Darwinism as she didn't do something stupid that resulted in her own demise.

Trevor

I disagree. Did you read the article?

mrhan

Really? On who's part?

Mrs. Danger

This kind of incident has become much more common since passenger airbags became standard.

Before then, it was rare.

and, yes, there is a connection.

Spiderbite

I totally agree. I only have one child but when he was that age, that was my worst fear. They fall asleep in the back seat, you zone out and then they are suddenly forgotten.

I would triple check my car even though I knew he wasn't with me or I remembered dropping him off. It just became muscle memory. Hell, he is 12 now and I still find myself making sure he got out of the car even though I heard him slam it and he got out right next to me.

Every parent's nightmare is to forgot your child. How some parents have 5+ kids and handle it is beyond me. I forgot to pick-up my kid one day from a soccer camp and left him waiting on me for 2 hours. I still fell guilty about that.

I really feel sorry for the child and the suffering they went through before they died. Just horrible.

And it is interesting the mention of airbags and kids having to ride in the back. For a long time they were supposed to ride in the pumpkin seat, in the middle with their backs facing you. I hated that the most.

milo bloom

Reposting to make sure people see this. It's not a cut and dry issue, it can happen to anybody.

Careful when reading that article though, it gets pretty graphic so reading at work might mess you up (but it does need to be read).

Dan

I've never forgotten my daughter (now 3) in the car, but I feared it'd happen especially in those first two years. Now that she's front-facing instead of rear-facing, I worry a bit less, but it's still on my mind.

Fatigue/exhaustion plays a big part. I urge ANY parents of younger children to get a sleep test done. If you have sleep apnea, a CPAP makes a WORLD of difference.

Pointyskull

Thanks for the link.
I really want to read that article, but I don't think I can after making an initial attempt. Wow.

It's sad that people are so quick to judge others when something like this happens. Tragic mistakes and accidents happen - and sitting behind a computer keyboard passing judgement on the actions of others is easy.

I simply cannot imagine having to live with the guilt and grief...

milo bloom

And just so we don't wallow in this, here's some tips for remembering:

http://www.courier-journal.com/story...cars/83202702/

The best one is to put your purse/briefcase in the backseat by the child to remind you.

Vibiana

This. I'll save my anger for parents who KNOWINGLY leave their kids in the car while they run into the store or whatever.

Pointyskull

Agreed.
AND people who KNOWINGLY leave dogs in a hot car....

EddieMoney

Backward facing car seat, kid asleep...fuck.

james2025a

Thats a long read, but an essential one. It really puts perspective on things and not to simply judge. Really sad to read and it sounds like some of these incidents are the worst kind of horrors. Just tragic all round.

mndtrp

Boy, that's awful. I can't even imagine how that would feel.

DRG

There's a car seat that is designed to prevent this very thing.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/24/health...ot-car-deaths/
http://www.evenflo.com/Products/Even...e_Embrace_DLX/

mndtrp

Wow. That was tough to get through, but a fantastic article.

Deftones

once you have kids, you realize how it would be possible to leave your kid in the car unintentionally. i've never done it, but i've definitely been exhausted to the point where it could have happened. if it is unintentional on the part of the parent, having their child hurt or even dead is usually more than enough of a punishment.

now, on the other hand, if the parent knowingly leaves the child in the vehicle, then they deserve to rot in hell.

mrhan

That is something the car manufacturers should integrate in their vehicles. Shit, my cars tell me when I forget my keys in the car. It will unlock the doors and give me three beeps. So, this is something that is doable.