Baby Dies in Hot Car in Wichita

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It has happened here in Wichita. A ten-month old baby died yesterday after being left in a hot car.

When our children were little, car seats could be put in the front seats of the car. I have wondered if part of the reason for the spike in child deaths in hot cars is people forgetting the child is in the back seat ("out of sight out of mind"). It is claimed children are safer in the back seat, but I wonder if that includes deaths of children left in the back seat in hot weather.

I don't have any proof of that hypothesis and I do not mean to excuse the behavior of leaving a child in a hot car. But, I can't think of any other reason for all of these tragedies.

Comments

  1. lynmerylJuly 25, 2014 at 9:09 AM

    That is a very question to ponder. I have three Chihuahuas who ride in hard crates in the hatch section of my Edge. And during the summer and even late spring/early fall, I need to remember when I have them in the car so that I don't forget them. As you said, "out of sight, out of mind". We are so busy running hither and yon that we get distracted and do forget things we should not.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. lynmerylJuly 25, 2014 at 9:11 AM

      Correction: That is a very good question to ponder.

      Delete
  2. AnonymousJuly 25, 2014 at 12:12 PM

    It stands to reason that our cell phones distract us when we drive. It's amazing the number people I see using them.

    ReplyDelete
  3. KerriJuly 25, 2014 at 11:43 PM

    This article is very long but gives an interesting viewpoint on these kind of tragedies. This article also mentions the switch to the back seat for car seats & children. http://m.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/fatal-distraction-forgetting-a-child-in-thebackseat-of-a-car-is-a-horrifying-mistake-is-it-a-crime/2014/06/16/8ae0fe3a-f580-11e3-a3a5-42be35962a52_story.html

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