So many times we have heard of babies being left in cars, left to die. So many times we have asked ourselves the same questions ‘Why?’ and ‘How?’ Tonight while watching the news I heard of yet another needless death of a baby, one who also had been left to die in a car. This is the 5th death I have heard of or read about in less than 2 weeks. This latest baby was left in a car that reached over 60 degrees. I am horrified to think what that poor little life went through.
I, being so every judgemental, jumped on the ‘net to investigate, for my own peace of mind, what these parents were lacking in…What sort of parents were these people, neglectful? You would think so, I mean how on earth do you forget your child?
Until I read a few stories I had thought that these people were more than likely drug addicts, alcoholics something terrible to explain such a needless tragedy…but you know something, most of them were like you and I. I read stories of loving parents who lost their child to the most horrible death, ‘caused by them, their stupidity and their thoughtlessness. I couldn’t believe that these people sounded like me, or you.
One father had forgotten that he was going to take his baby to daycare. A job his wife always did. Until this one day. His wife strapped the baby into the car, mother and father kissed each other good bye. Then the husband received a call on his mobile as he was about to drive off, one about an emergency at work, one which demanded his attention there and then. Rushing to work he had forgotten about his infant in the back seat. He arrived at work, sorted the emergency out and started on with his day. On finishing work he received a phone call from his wife, ‘don’t forget to pick the baby up’. The husband left work and arrived at the daycare to pick his child up. The child never arrived though. A moment of panic, he raced to his car where he found his baby dead in the back seat due to heat exhaustion.
This is only one of many stories I came across. This is only one of many people who have been so caught up in life, they forgot about the one life that was more important. Their child’s life…
What about Mothers? Mothers, who have tried desperately to get their child to sleep and decide to take baby out for a drive to help them tire. When it happens, when baby finally falls asleep, they quietly drive home and leave baby sleeping in the car. Mum is too desperate to wake their child, too desperate herself for sleep, does the one thing she thinks is good and the one thing she only means to happen. Allowing that baby to sleep without disturbing him/her. Watching out the window towards the car mum pours herself a drink and then decides to sit down for one minute, just one minute. Mum falls asleep by accident herself. She wakes up four hours later to find baby dead in the car.
Parents who love their children but are so caught up in a moment that they can’t see straight, parents who are too caught up in work, parents who are desperate but don’t realize it, mothers who are just so tired that they have a laps in judgment, fathers who are desperate to make a living to support his family and become sidetracked. These people are you and I really. These people, besides the cruel fact they left their child in a car to die, are not really any different than you or I.
The point I am so desperately trying to make is that this has happened to people who others would have considered the best parents around. Good people and some who just thought that they would only be a minute in the shop, people who thought that just because it was cool outside their child would be fine…..People who could end up being ones you know and if you chance leaving your child, even for a moment in a car, then people who could end up being YOU.
Some parents deliberately leave their kids in cars, to run into a shop, see a teacher, talk to a friend while standing next to the car and the next minute that have taken a little longer than expected, only to find their child dead.
There is not just one type of person who does this, there are many and from many social standards. One man, similar to the story of the father, was a well respected NASA worker who did the same thing, left his baby in the car all day while at work.
Even if it is only for what you think is 5 minutes, do not leave your baby in the car. If you see a baby left in a car, anywhere, call the authorities as this may be the last place that baby is seen alive. A parked car on a warm day can quickly become an oven. It can take less than 20 minutes to kill a child who is left inside. Don’t let it happen to your kids or those you know. Make sure everyone in your life understands this one golden rule of lie, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CHILD IN THE CAR.
Obviously this is still advice that needs to be pushed and pushed, otherwise we wouldn’t be seeing so many cases on the news like we are at the moment. Stories like these ones here.
Cars are riding in, not dying in…..be safe, be responsible, be alert….
(January 2007) (
