2018 Hot Car Deaths

[Country Kids]

A three month old little boy was left in the back seat of a car yesterday in Ohio and passed because of the heat.

Authorities have stated they will not file charges because she made a mistake and did not intentionally commit a crime.

Looks like it is a case by case incident if the parent will be charged or not.

[Blackcat31]

A three month old little boy was left in the back seat of a car yesterday in Ohio and passed because of the heat.

Authorities have stated they will not file charges because she made a mistake and did not intentionally commit a crime.

Looks like it is a case by case incident if the parent will be charged or not.

Imagine for a second that this story was exactly the same (outcome and everything) but instead of forgetting baby in car the baby was forgotten at home.

I bet the parent would be charged with neglect and all sorts of things. But for some reason "in the car" changes things.

This topic is so sad and infuriating.

I totally understand the parent's stories and how it happened to them but yet I don't. Maybe IF the penalties were consistent and stiff.....the thoughtless autopilot like process that happens wouldn't happen. I don't know.

A child dying is just so awful. They didn't even get a chance...

The sloughing off of responsibility though stuns me. Not only in this type of situation but alot of parent situations.
Take Bode Miller for example....his 19 month old DD drowned recently. The headline yesterday? Bode Miller wants to know why he wasn't informed about the dangers of drowning by his child's pediatrician. :confused: Really?

[Country Kids]

Imagine for a second that this story was exactly the same (outcome and everything) but instead of forgetting baby in car the baby was forgotten at home.

I bet the parent would be charged with neglect and all sorts of things. But for some reason "in the car" changes things.

This topic is so sad and infuriating.

I totally understand the parent's stories and how it happened to them but yet I don't. Maybe IF the penalties were consistent and stiff.....the thoughtless autopilot like process that happens wouldn't happen. I don't know.

A child dying is just so awful. They didn't even get a chance...

The sloughing off of responsibility though stuns me. Not only in this type of situation but alot of parent situations.
Take Bode Miller for example....his 19 month old DD drowned recently. The headline yesterday? Bode Miller wants to know why he wasn't informed about the dangers of drowning by his child's pediatrician. :confused: Really?

I so get the auto pilot thing-has happened twice to me in the last month. With in 30 seconds of getting in my car I totally spaced where I needed to be going and went the way I usually went. Thankfully I didn't have a child in the car but it shows even someone like me who doesn't have little ones can go auto pilot forgetting where they should be going.

I think even with stiff penalties, the auto pilot would kick in, especially with a change in scheduling.

I had to do a paper last term on how to educate parents more on the dangers of smoking and drinking while pregnant and where to post the information. These kind of warnings have been happening forever! If parents don't want to listen or think it can't happen to them, they won't take the information in.

If an Olympic athlete does not know the dangers of a pool around a child, how much more can one be educated.

[Josiegirl]

I so get the auto pilot thing-has happened twice to me in the last month. With in 30 seconds of getting in my car I totally spaced where I needed to be going and went the way I usually went. Thankfully I didn't have a child in the car but it shows even someone like me who doesn't have little ones can go auto pilot forgetting where they should be going.

I think even with stiff penalties, the auto pilot would kick in, especially with a change in scheduling.

I had to do a paper last term on how to educate parents more on the dangers of smoking and drinking while pregnant and where to post the information. These kind of warnings have been happening forever! If parents don't want to listen or think it can't happen to them, they won't take the information in.

If an Olympic athlete does not know the dangers of a pool around a child, how much more can one be educated.

I get auto-pilot too. I used to leave cupcakes sitting on the top of my car while driving my kids around, or even still pass the turn to the bank when my mind is elsewhere. But come on, kids????? Leaving them in the car?? It's incomprehensible to me how something can be so much more important than that sweet dear little life sitting snug and safe in a carseat, needing our complete care and protection. :confused:
And reading about not knowing the dangers of water and children???? WTF It says way more about the dad than the pedi.
Has our country gotten so bad about passing the blame or being so totally self-involved that our own children have become the sad victims in our selfishness?? Aren't we the ones who have been given a precious gift of a baby to protect, love and take care of throughout their lives, until they can care for themselves??

There has got to be something done to the parents or whoever is responsible. Yes, I feel terribly sad and bad for what they're going through and unless it was done intentionally(I shudder at the thought) they will live with that guilt forever. BUT it does not absolve them from what they're responsible for. Prison time, no. But it needs to cost them somehow. Maybe in terms of speaking engagements to teach, community service, or money to fund programs....something.

[amberrose3dg]

I get auto-pilot too. I used to leave cupcakes sitting on the top of my car while driving my kids around, or even still pass the turn to the bank when my mind is elsewhere. But come on, kids????? Leaving them in the car?? It's incomprehensible to me how something can be so much more important than that sweet dear little life sitting snug and safe in a carseat, needing our complete care and protection. :confused:
And reading about not knowing the dangers of water and children???? WTF It says way more about the dad than the pedi.
Has our country gotten so bad about passing the blame or being so totally self-involved that our own children have become the sad victims in our selfishness?? Aren't we the ones who have been given a precious gift of a baby to protect, love and take care of throughout their lives, until they can care for themselves??

There has got to be something done to the parents or whoever is responsible. Yes, I feel terribly sad and bad for what they're going through and unless it was done intentionally(I shudder at the thought) they will live with that guilt forever. BUT it does not absolve them from what they're responsible for. Prison time, no. But it needs to cost them somehow. Maybe in terms of speaking engagements to teach, community service, or money to fund programs....something.

This topic is such a hot button for me. I honestly do not get how you forget your kid(s) in the car. You go into autopilot mode and do not drive to the school,daycare etc... I mean come on.You probably shouldn't be driving in that state if you do not know where you are even going!.Every parent now knows the dangers yet here we are in 2018 with over 50+ cases of this?Something has to be done about it.How is this not neglect at the minimum but like blackcat said if they left the child at home it would be? I cannot help to also think some of these "accidents" are awful ways for parents to be rid of their kids. It happens way too often for it not to be a sinister act every now and then. Parents that forget their kids and cause their death should be held accountable. Sorry but whether you had brain fog or intentionally did it you are responsible. Maybe you stop being so self involved to forget your most precious possession in life in the back seat!!

[amberrose3dg]

Cannot begin to imagine. I just can't.

I call some bull**** on this one!
You drop one off and you forget your baby.

[Blackcat31]

I get auto-pilot too. I used to leave cupcakes sitting on the top of my car while driving my kids around, or even still pass the turn to the bank when my mind is elsewhere. But come on, kids????? Leaving them in the car?? It's incomprehensible to me how something can be so much more important than that sweet dear little life sitting snug and safe in a carseat, needing our complete care and protection. :confused:
And reading about not knowing the dangers of water and children???? WTF It says way more about the dad than the pedi.

I think if the penalties were super stiff/harsh, that it would be something we constantly keep at the front of our brains.

Take liability in child care.... I know that because liability has the power to literally ruin me....it's something I think about every single day within every single activity and interaction with a DCK and their family. I think "liability" when browsing toys or materials for daycare, I think "liability" when creating, enforcing or eliminating policies. I think "liability" when transitioning from one activity to another, when serving lunch, when the kids are being dropped off and picked up. I never stop thinking about liability.

Has our country gotten so bad about passing the blame or being so totally self-involved that our own children have become the sad victims in our selfishness??

This made me think of some stupid challenge going around called the "kiki challenge". Hadn't heard of it until this morning on the news. Apparently some girl got seriously injured participating in this challenge. After listening to the entire story, I immediately thought "People ARE getting stupid" I'm sorry the girl got hurt but it's her own fault.

There has got to be something done to the parents or whoever is responsible. Yes, I feel terribly sad and bad for what they're going through and unless it was done intentionally(I shudder at the thought) they will live with that guilt forever. BUT it does not absolve them from what they're responsible for. Prison time, no. But it needs to cost them somehow. Maybe in terms of speaking engagements to teach, community service, or money to fund programs....something.

We've discussed numerous times on this board the differences in punishment for the same acts when it comes to a child care provider doing X and a parent doing X.

Maybe it's time we stop holding providers MORE responsible because these are NOT OUR KIDS and start holding parents MORE responsible because these ARE THEIR KIDS!

In my honest opinion, that makes them (parents) have a higher level of responsibility because they the parent.

[Country Kids]

Doing some quick research, it looks like hot car deaths "started" or at least being recorded in 1994. There have been 804 since then which averages 34 a year-almost 1 a state. Ages range from very tiny to 5/6 year olds.

What has changed since 1994. Is it the placement of car seats in the back, turned around but some of the children are older not very little. Is it more moms working, parents working and stressed? Could it be are brains are "rewiring" due to technology, and our thought process/rememberance isn't the way it used to be? The clue is the year this started happening and what began or started that year of why this is happening ( I believe). What about that year can we go back and figure out and change, to save a children's lives?

[Blackcat31]

What has changed since 1994.

Parents no longer held their child responsible.
(It is always someone else's fault)
Children no longer had to the pain of losing.
(Everyone is a winner)
Parents based their "performance" on appearances (social media) verses results (responsible adults that ARE adults, not just pretending to adult for a day)

The list goes on.......

That is the same time period in which "those" children became parents themselves. Sadly though, they were never taught to be an adult so instead are raising kids as kids themselves.

(ETA: I am not speaking about ALL kids/parents of that generation.)

[Cat Herder]

What has changed since 1994.

Some could also be longer work hours with both parents working full time.

40 hours per week used to be common. Now 50+ and mandatory overtime for salaried positions is more common.

It takes two minimum wage jobs to afford an apartment and utilities these days. Starting out is virtually impossible without help anymore.

Those hours leave little time for bonding.

[Country Kids]

Parents no longer held their child responsible.
(It is always someone else's fault)
Children no longer had to the pain of losing.
(Everyone is a winner)
Parents based their "performance" on appearances (social media) verses results (responsible adults that ARE adults, not just pretending to adult for a day)

The list goes on.......

That is the same time period in which "those" children became parents themselves. Sadly though, they were never taught to be an adult so instead are raising kids as kids themselves.

(ETA: I am not speaking about ALL kids/parents of that generation.)

I'm of the generation that started becoming parents in 1994. I don't think any of the things you mentioned really started being a "problem" till 10 years ago.

We had no computer till the 1997 and rarely was on it. There was really no social media at that time and if there was it was very limited and I'm sure not well known of.

The children that were raised during the 1990's are just now becoming parents so we can't say it was social media and the trophy child. This has been happening for 25 years!

We now have several that are in the medical field that have forgotten their child, it isn't just young parents, parents of all ages are forgetting their children.

I think its long, long hours we do, trying to squeeze 3 days of work into 1, instead of keeping up with the Jones's know it is trying to keep up with the best parents that you know, trying to keep it all together when your falling apart inside, etc.

I honestly think instead of so much emphasis on birthing classes maybe there needs to be a much bigger emphasis on parenting classes on parenting while your pregnant. Covering safety, child development, finding a peditrician, childcare and the list could go on.

[Josiegirl]

I wonder if we know international statistics of hot car deaths? Are people in other countries as negligent or 'forgetful' as this? Would they have repercussions in place for something like this?

Just curious. :confused:

[Cat Herder]

I wonder if we know international statistics of hot car deaths? Are people in other countries as negligent or 'forgetful' as this? Would they have repercussions in place for something like this?

Just curious. :confused:

http://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/world-rankings-total-deaths

I don't have time to go through it now, but plan to this afternoon. Maybe you can get a head start? :hug: New enrollees. Paperwork, paperwork and more paperwork, gah...

[Blackcat31]

I'm of the generation that started becoming parents in 1994. I don't think any of the things you mentioned really started being a "problem" till 10 years ago.

We had no computer till the 1997 and rarely was on it. There was really no social media at that time and if there was it was very limited and I'm sure not well known of.

The children that were raised during the 1990's are just now becoming parents so we can't say it was social media and the trophy child. This has been happening for 25 years!

We now have several that are in the medical field that have forgotten their child, it isn't just young parents, parents of all ages are forgetting their children.

I think its long, long hours we do, trying to squeeze 3 days of work into 1, instead of keeping up with the Jones's know it is trying to keep up with the best parents that you know, trying to keep it all together when your falling apart inside, etc.

I honestly think instead of so much emphasis on birthing classes maybe there needs to be a much bigger emphasis on parenting classes on parenting while your pregnant. Covering safety, child development, finding a peditrician, childcare and the list could go on.

There was "social media" long before Facebook or what we view social media as today so I disagree. The last 10 yrs only amplify the issue but I think that type of thinking DID exist prior to FB (or current social media) becoming super popular.

The issues I mentioned started LONG before just the last 10 years (read any old venting posts about parenting and how it's changed over the last few decades)

Also I'm not understanding what you mean by "We now have several that are in the medical field that have forgotten their child, it isn't just young parents, parents of all ages are forgetting their children." :confused:
Parents in the medical field aren't the same as others having children today? What does the medical field have to do with forgetting your child?

I don't think you can pin point the root of this issue to any one thing but instead a change in societal beliefs, actions and behaviors. A change that started so small that it was unnoticed or at the very least not even recognized until we see the outcome.

[nannyde]

I wonder if we know international statistics of hot car deaths? Are people in other countries as negligent or 'forgetful' as this? Would they have repercussions in place for something like this?

Just curious. :confused:

I think we could only compare to countries that had the same car seat laws and weather.