It Happened Again. 6 Month Old Death

[Lucy]

A 6 month old died in dad's car at a large company near me. The expert they interviewed on one of the news channels suggested a few things parents can do to prevent this, and at the end of her suggestions, she said:

"One other thing that could be done is a policy with their day care provider to call the parents if the child doesn’t show up as planned.
In so many of these cases, that one simple phone call would have been the difference between life and death for the child."

http://koin.com/2014/10/17/hillsboro-pd-dad-forgot-6-month-old-was-in-car/

So sad when these things happen. Imagine the suffering for these kids.

[Bookworm]

Someone needs to explain to me what is going on in the parents life to make them forget that they have an baby in the car. Asleep or awake. I'm getting tired of the he/she was distracted or "not my usual routine" excuse.

[BumbleBee]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNDWN8KDVSM#t=361

I know this video is a simulation but I think it is well done.

And this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwZjhUI81Pw is frightening to me. I'm not a fan of the comments nor the written description of the video but the video itself is one to watch.

[nannyde]

The answer is for the parents to set up daily checks and balances with their friends and family. If this Dads sister called him every day and asked... "did you remember to drop off the baby?" This wouldn't have happened.

I don't understand how this could be in the news so much and parents aren't developing a daily check system.

[KidGrind]

A 6 month old died in dad's car at a large company near me. The expert they interviewed on one of the news channels suggested a few things parents can do to prevent this, and at the end of her suggestions, she said:

"One other thing that could be done is a policy with their day care provider to call the parents if the child doesn’t show up as planned.
In so many of these cases, that one simple phone call would have been the difference between life and death for the child."

http://koin.com/2014/10/17/hillsboro-pd-dad-forgot-6-month-old-was-in-car/

So sad when these things happen. Imagine the suffering for these kids.

I am very sad the baby suffered and died.

Even so, how is it now any provider’s responsibility to call when a child doesn’t arrive. Why would they even suggest that?

[sahm1225]

I am very sad the baby suffered and died.

Even so, how is it now any provider’s responsibility to call when a child doesn’t arrive. Why would they even suggest that?

Exactly. Why doesn't the MOM call the dad? Or the dad call the nom? How is the daycare responsible?

[Cat Herder]

I am very sad the baby suffered and died.

Even so, how is it now any provider’s responsibility to call when a child doesn’t arrive. Why would they even suggest that?

Because we are being trained that it is our responsibility.

[kitykids3]

Here in WI, we are required to call if they don't show up an hour after their expected arrival. Me personally, I usually call/text within a half hour. I care about my kiddos and I'd like to know if something is wrong if they aren't here on time.

[sahm1225]

This really makes me angry the more i think about it. Making a provider have responsibility of children not yet dropped off is ridiculous! When do the parents take responsibility for their actions? What happens if while I am calling the parent to remind them to drop off their child and a child currently in my care falls and gets hurt because I am distracted on the phone?

[Unregistered]

It was a suggestion. Why be angered by it? What's a 10 second text to ask if everything is OK? Maybe a provider will take that suggestion and implement it and just maybe it saves one life.

[kitykids3]

I personally won't be responsible for what happens to a child while not in my watch (ie:before they get here). The parents are still responsible for that time. However, I text because I care, because I want to know if they're sick, or make sure they're coming, or sometimes maybe they overslept, or God forbid something worse happened. It doesn't matter the reason, if they are a half hour late when they normally show up at the same time everyday, then that gives me reason to be concerned, just because I'm human.

ETA: watching that video broke my heart, just broke it. How preventable.

[Second Home]

It was a suggestion. Why be angered by it? What's a 10 second text to ask if everything is OK? Maybe a provider will take that suggestion and implement it and just maybe it saves one life.

I care very much about my dck and often call when someone is missing . But what worries me is that a law requiring providers to call parents will place all the responsibility on the providers and the provider will end up being sued because of failing to call within the required amount of time .
What would happen if Suzie is not here but I have a child who is sick and vomiting , I need to clean that child , keep all the other kids supervised and clean up the mess & disinfect the area. Then call the sick child's parents to arrange pick up .

Not an easy thing to do while caring for multiple children but then add in keeping track of time to call Suzie's parents to find out where she is . Maybe I call an hour too late because I am cleaning up the sick child and Suzie was already forgotten in the hot car and may not survive . That is not something I want to be held liable for . And I guarantee that the provider will be blamed and even sued because it would be their fault for not calling the parent .

[midaycare]

I text when a child doesn't show up. But I'm not repeatedly texting or calling all day. I run a business. If a parent forgets their phone or doesn't answer me, it is not fair to hold me responsible.

That situation hasn't happened yet. I have one dcm who is late sometimes, but she answers my texts. If she ever doesn't, I'm not going to spend all day chasing her down.

[mom2many]

I have a policy that parents must let me know by 9 am if their child will not be attending. There have been times when a parent forgets to notify me that morning & I always send them a quick text asking them about it. It's not a big deal and it reassures me that no child in my care will ever suffer like this!

[mom2many]

I personally won't be responsible for what happens to a child while not in my watch (ie:before they get here). The parents are still responsible for that time. However, I text because I care, because I want to know if they're sick, or make sure they're coming, or sometimes maybe they overslept, or God forbid something worse happened. It doesn't matter the reason, if they are a half hour late when they normally show up at the same time everyday, then that gives me reason to be concerned, just because I'm human.

ETA: watching that video broke my heart, just broke it. How preventable.