Safety Alert:Should parents&caretakers who forget their children in car seats&die be fined or jailed??
Posted Jul 19 2010 5:41pm
It is heartbreaking to hear these stories yet every summer, when the weather can reach 90-116 degrees in some places& the temperature in cars can quickly double,many children from as young as newborn to three years of age are reported dead because the parent or caregiver 'forgot' to take them out or in the case of older children, they manged to get into the car and couldn't find a way out.
The article below, from momlogic, nicely compiles a recent list of 23 children who have died around the US alone because of this 'forgetfulness' or neglect of parents. Is it really 'forgetfulness' or is it a case of neglect?
I can't imagine forgetting my child in the car,especially when they are below the age of 12 or 13 and shouldn't even be left home alone yet. Some parents may think it's ok to leave their child in the car for a quick trip to the ATM or convenience store;which in many cases isn't life threatening. However, you also risk the threat of a carjacker or kidnapper taking off with your kids and keys in the car;which has happened in some other cases.
We have never left our children alone in the car, let alone car seats, without one of us being in the car as well. However, my kids have been known to sneak into our garage and get into the car. Thankfully, I caught them and reprimanded them and now I make sure to keep the car locked and keys out of their reach.
It is tough when you have two curious boys at home,one being six years old and the other three. My oldest is like another 'Dennis the Menace'...only I call him 'Messy Matthew'.
What are some of the things you do to keep your kids safe and prevent accidental deaths like this? Should parents&caretakers who forget their children in the car or leave the car unlocked or leave the keys out be fined or jailed? I'm kind of mixed on this because I know how mischievous kids can be;yet realize we are ultimately responsible for them when they are in our care.
It is heartbreaking to hear these stories yet every summer, when the weather can reach 90-116 degrees in some places& the temperature in cars can quickly double,many children from as young as newborn to three years of age are reported dead because the parent or caregiver 'forgot' to take them out or in the case of older children, they manged to get into the car and couldn't find a way out.
The article below, from momlogic, nicely compiles a recent list of 23 children who have died around the US alone because of this 'forgetfulness' or neglect of parents. Is it really 'forgetfulness' or is it a case of neglect?
I can't imagine forgetting my child in the car,especially when they are below the age of 12 or 13 and shouldn't even be left home alone yet. Some parents may think it's ok to leave their child in the car for a quick trip to the ATM or convenience store;which in many cases isn't life threatening. However, you also risk the threat of a carjacker or kidnapper taking off with your kids and keys in the car;which has happened in some other cases.
We have never left our children alone in the car, let alone car seats, without one of us being in the car as well. However, my kids have been known to sneak into our garage and get into the car. Thankfully, I caught them and reprimanded them and now I make sure to keep the car locked and keys out of their reach.
It is tough when you have two curious boys at home,one being six years old and the other three. My oldest is like another 'Dennis the Menace'...only I call him 'Messy Matthew'.
What are some of the things you do to keep your kids safe and prevent accidental deaths like this? Should parents&caretakers who forget their children in the car or leave the car unlocked or leave the keys out be fined or jailed? I'm kind of mixed on this because I know how mischievous kids can be;yet realize we are ultimately responsible for them when they are in our care.