When a child is left in a vehicle, or worse, dies, people are outraged! “How could you forget your child in the car?” That is the million-dollar question. It seems to happen more, during the summer months and as families get busier. 49 children died in 2010 as a result of being left in a vehicle, and June 2011 marked the 500th child vehicular heat stroke death; this is not a milestone to be celebrated, but one to call caregivers to action!
Most people find it hard to understand, but it could happen to anyone. The most dangerous mistake a parent or caregiver could make is to think it could never happen to them! In more than 50% of the cases, the person responsible for the child’s death unknowingly left the child in the vehicle, and they were loving and protective parents. It has happened to a teacher, pediatrician, dentist, postal clerk, social worker, police officer, nurse, clergyman, electrician, accountant, solider, assistant principle and even a rocket scientist!
Many factors play into why or how children are left in vehicles.Juggling multiple kids, working a full time job, taking care of the house, experiencing a change in routine, stress, fatigue or a baby sleeping peacefully in their car seat could lead to a child being forgotten in a vehicle. “Memory is a machine and it is not flawless. Our conscious mind prioritizes things by importance, but on a cellular level, our memory does not. If you are capable of forgetting your cell phone, you are potentially capable of forgetting your child. (David Diamond, Professor of Molecular Physiology, University of South Florida).