As temperatures start to increase PSA

[starkvegasdawg]

2017 has 1st toddler die from being left in a hot car. That's one too many. ALWAYS remember to check the backseat. This is 100% preventable.

[BayouDawg]

I couldn't imagine living with the grief of that. My neighbor accidentally shot and killed his teenage son while hunting last year. He'll never get over that.

[Bothrops]

I can't image how this keeps happening. Just like people keep getting smashed by a train trying to cross. Just keeps happening.

[Percho]

My daughter rented a chevy to come this Easter and when you killed the eng a message appeared in the dash around the area of the speedometer to check the backseat.

I thought that was a very neat feature.

[Harrydawg]

I couldn't imagine living with the grief of that. My neighbor accidentally shot and killed his teenage son while hunting last year. He'll never get over that.

Speaking of things that should never happen.....a grown man shooting and not knowing what he is shooting at. I could see leaving a kid in the back seat before that.....either way tragic

[missouridawg]

I can't image how this keeps happening. Just like people keep getting smashed by a train trying to cross. Just keeps happening.

There is no rhyme or reason to the types of people who have this happen to them. It occurs because your brain is an incredibly powerful thing, which allows you to complete multiple tasks simultaneously without much thought on what you're doing, such as driving. Have you ever driven somewhere, arrived, and then couldn't remember a thing about your drive? That's how it happens and it terrifies me every day, as my wife leaves to take the kids to daycare. We've instituted a rule in our house that you have to text before you leave daycare that the drop off went fine to alert the other.

I can't imagine living a life knowing I did something a like this.

[Offshore Dawg]

This problem has existed since man & woman first walked this earth " THERE IS NO INTELLIGENCE TEST GIVEN TO BE A PARENT" any fool can have a child, and there are a lot of people with children that should not be allowed to reproduce. Now I am off my soapbox.

[TUSK]

Speaking of things that should never happen.....a grown man shooting and not knowing what he is shooting at. I could see leaving a kid in the back seat before that.....either way tragic

I'm a firm believer that there aren't any "gun accidents"...

Also, I can't imagine forgetting about a baby... but I'm not qualified in that department (as I have none)....

[TUSK]

This problem has existed since man & woman first walked this earth " THERE IS NO INTELLIGENCE TEST GIVEN TO BE A PARENT" any fool can have a child, and there are a lot of people with children that should not be allowed to reproduce. Now I am off my soapbox.

License breeding.

[Bully13]

I hear youMissouri. But I can't help thinking drugs aren't playing a role in leaving a baby in the car. During my drinking problem days I could never imagine doing that with my son. Impossible.

[Dawg-gone-dawgs]

My daughter rented a chevy to come this Easter and when you killed the eng a message appeared in the dash around the area of the speedometer to check the backseat.

I thought that was a very neat feature.

It's sad that parents have to be reminded that their own child is in the damn back seat. Where the hell is their mind?

[missouridawg]

I hear youMissouri. But I can't help thinking drugs aren't playing a role in leaving a baby in the car. During my drinking problem days I could never imagine doing that with my son. Impossible.

Listen to "Breakdown" season 2. Podcast by the Atlanta Journal Constitution. It follows the trial of an Atlanta man who did just this.

All advanced research cannot find any consistent link in hot car deaths. It happens to white people and black people. Rich people and poor people. Great parents and shitty parents. Addicts and Christians. It's about your brain and until you admit that, personally, your awareness on how to prevent it cannot proceed.

As the Texas heat starts coming in, I'm probably going to try and buy a product to prevent this. I have a 2.5 year old and a 3 month old now and just can't imagine doing this. I think the Sense-a-Life products looks solid, but I'm not sure of its availability.

[missouridawg]

This problem has existed since man & woman first walked this earth " THERE IS NO INTELLIGENCE TEST GIVEN TO BE A PARENT" any fool can have a child, and there are a lot of people with children that should not be allowed to reproduce. Now I am off my soapbox.

You're right, in that there are a lot of people on the planet who should not reproduce. But it has nothing to do with this topic and all advanced research on hot car deaths proves my point.

[sandwolf]

You're right, in that there are a lot of people on the planet who should not reproduce. But it has nothing to do with this topic and all advanced research on hot car deaths proves my point.Yea, I haven't looked at any of the research, but I strongly encourage every parent to accept the idea that this can absolutely happen to anybody and to be vigilant about preventing it.

My wife used to take my boy to daycare every day, but every once in a while she would need to go in early and I would need to take him. Well his daycare is at the same exit as my office, and after fighting traffic, listening to the radio, etc. for 30 minutes, there were a couple of times that I just fell back into my normal routine, took the exit and turned right to go to my office instead of turning left to go to daycare.....now I always realized my mistake before getting to my office, but it's not hard to see how a situation like that could end tragically for a great, loving parent with a lot going on at work and a sleeping baby in a rear facing car seat.

We are creatures of habit, so don't take on the mindset that you are above this and that this could only happen to a shitty parent. Every parent should put some type of system in place to prevent this....I put my briefcase in the back seat by the car seat, my wife and I text each other to make sure he got dropped off ok, etc.

[Interpolation_Dawg_EX]

Yea, I haven't looked at any of the research, but I strongly encourage every parent to accept the idea that this can absolutely happen to anybody and to be vigilant about preventing it.

My wife used to take my boy to daycare every day, but every once in a while she would need to go in early and I would need to take him. Well his daycare is at the same exit as my office, and after fighting traffic, listening to the radio, etc. for 30 minutes, there were a couple of times that I just fell back into my normal routine, took the exit and turned right to go to my office instead of turning left to go to daycare.....now I always realized my mistake before getting to my office, but it's not hard to see how a situation like that could end tragically for a great, loving parent with a lot going on at work and a sleeping baby in a rear facing car seat.

We are creatures of habit, so don't take on the mindset that you are above this and that this could only happen to a shitty parent. Every parent should put some type of system in place to prevent this....I put my briefcase in the back seat by the car seat, my wife and I text each other to make sure he got dropped off ok, etc.

I hear that a cell phone works well too. Anything to get you to double check can't hurt.

[AFDawg]

Cell phone is a great way to do it. Or a shoe.

[sandwolf]

Cell phone is a great way to do it. Or a shoe.The shoe is a great idea. You ain't walking into the office without that.

[TUSK]

Regarding the cell phone, (briefcase or shoe, etc) idea....

Is this to infer that those items are too important or necessary to forget or go without??

[missouridawg]

Regarding the cell phone, (briefcase or shoe, etc) idea....

Is this to infer that those items are too important or necessary to forget or go without??

Yes. How long can you go from the time you exit your car without a shoe? One step on the concrete, for most people before they realize the shoe is in the backseat by the baby.

It can happen to anyone

Sandwolf - my wife usually does the daycare drop off too, but on the rare occasion that I do, I occasionally fall into my routine as well. Daycare is left out of the neighborhood and work is right. I have turned right before with the kid in the backseat. Luckily, I've never gone more than 250 yards before I realize what I've done... but I can easily see how this could happen to anyone.

[Political Hack]

Regarding the cell phone, (briefcase or shoe, etc) idea....

Is this to infer that those items are too important or necessary to forget or go without??

You'll look for them more quickly than other items and realize they're missing. You're not used to looking for your kid at work. I don't think anyone is implying that your left shoe is more important than your child.

[LC Dawg]

I think most parents, especially parents with 3+ kids, can look back at some instance of negligence in the raising of their kids that could have ended badly.
I once lost track of an 8 year old at Disney World. That could have ended badly and I'm sure I would have been judged as a bad parent by some but I would have also been judged if I had her on a leash.
I'm not equating this to forgetting a child in a locked car but I don't feel it's my place to judge someone that has this happen. My guess is that what they have to deal with for the rest of their life is brutal.
My kids are now 23, 22, and 19 and I'm thankful for getting them through their childhood relatively safely.
Discussions like this are very helpful for parents of small children because its just another reminder of how diligent you have to be to be a parent in this busy world in which we live.

[Percho]

It's sad that parents have to be reminded that their own child is in the damn back seat. Where the hell is their mind?

Up their---------------

[Political Hack]

Anyone who thinks they're beyond capable of being distracted is mistaken in my opinion. People today are juggling 10,000,000 tasks between work, parenting, social life, and daily responsibilities. There are days I look up and realize it's 10:00 PM and I haven't slowed down yet. I often get to 2-3 in the afternoon before I realize I missed lunch. It's not that I'm not hungry (I'm always hungry), it's that I'm distracted by the million things going on around me. That said, it's still negligence. No other way to describe it. Happy to see many folks on here have a system in place to prevent this from happening.

[Johnson85]

Anyone who thinks they're beyond capable of being distracted is mistaken in my opinion. People today are juggling 10,000,000 tasks between work, parenting, social life, and daily responsibilities. There are days I look up and realize it's 10:00 PM and I haven't slowed down yet. I often get to 2-3 in the afternoon before I realize I missed lunch. It's not that I'm not hungry (I'm always hungry), it's that I'm distracted by the million things going on around me. That said, it's still negligence. No other way to describe it. Happy to see many folks on here have a system in place to prevent this from happening.

Yeah, when I hear people get so adamant about it I assume it's because they don't have kids and have no clue or it's that they do have (or had kids) and they recoil at the idea because they subconsciously realize it could happen (or could have happened) to them. Not sure what it looks like in other places, but the four cases I'm aware of in Mississippi, one was someone that probably looked like 80% of this board (or at least a version of them at that age); young married professional with good job. Two were lower class but looked like loving and devastated parent (in one case) and step parent (in the other). Maybe being lower class and stressed contributed to their doing it. And only one (involving daycare workers) made me think that anybody should be in jail. I know there have been more than that, but those are the four I remember.

[Johnson85]

Regarding the cell phone, (briefcase or shoe, etc) idea....

Is this to infer that those items are too important or necessary to forget or go without??

No, you are to infer that they are items that are necessary and frequent contributors to your daily routine, so if you were to leave the car without them, you'd have an immediate reminder that you had forgotten them, whereas you might not think about a child you should have dropped off at daycare until it's time to go home.

[sleepy dawg]

I'm a firm believer that there aren't any "gun accidents"...

Also, I can't imagine forgetting about a baby... but I'm not qualified in that department (as I have none)....

I can see a gun accident before forgetting your child in the car long enough to kill them. I've never even left milk in the car long enough to spoil.

Although anyone who follows proper gun safety should not have any accidents, unless there is a complete fluke indecent like a ricochet.

[sandwolf]

Anyone who thinks they're beyond capable of being distracted is mistaken in my opinion. People today are juggling 10,000,000 tasks between work, parenting, social life, and daily responsibilities. There are days I look up and realize it's 10:00 PM and I haven't slowed down yet. I often get to 2-3 in the afternoon before I realize I missed lunch. It's not that I'm not hungry (I'm always hungry), it's that I'm distracted by the million things going on around me. That said, it's still negligence. No other way to describe it. Happy to see many folks on here have a system in place to prevent this from happening.+1

[Vetdawg32]

Yea, I haven't looked at any of the research, but I strongly encourage every parent to accept the idea that this can absolutely happen to anybody and to be vigilant about preventing it.

My wife used to take my boy to daycare every day, but every once in a while she would need to go in early and I would need to take him. Well his daycare is at the same exit as my office, and after fighting traffic, listening to the radio, etc. for 30 minutes, there were a couple of times that I just fell back into my normal routine, took the exit and turned right to go to my office instead of turning left to go to daycare.....now I always realized my mistake before getting to my office, but it's not hard to see how a situation like that could end tragically for a great, loving parent with a lot going on at work and a sleeping baby in a rear facing car seat.

We are creatures of habit, so don't take on the mindset that you are above this and that this could only happen to a shitty parent. Every parent should put some type of system in place to prevent this....I put my briefcase in the back seat by the car seat, my wife and I text each other to make sure he got dropped off ok, etc.

I've done something similar. I have a 3 and 1 year old and in the past, my wife would take them to daycare and on other days I would. One time when it was my day I was halfway to work before I realized my kids were still in the back seat. I called my wife right then and said no more. I will take them every morning from now on. It scared me some kind of bad that it was that close to happening.

We also now do what several others have mentioned which is that I text my wife once I'm leaving the daycare and the kids are dropped off. If she hasn't heard from me by 7:30 she calls.

[West Tn Dawg]

I've done something similar. I have a 3 and 1 year old and in the past, my wife would take them to daycare and on other days I would. One time when it was my day I was halfway to work before I realized my kids were still in the back seat. I called my wife right then and said no more. I will take them every morning from now on. It scared me some kind of bad that it was that close to happening.

We also now do what several others have mentioned which is that I text my wife once I'm leaving the daycare and the kids are dropped off. If she hasn't heard from me by 7:30 she calls.

I could see where this could happen if you have a juggled routine. It would be terrible. I like that you decided to make it a daily routine.
Maybe if there were a ribbon to tie on the steering wheel anytime you had the kids or maybe a window cling you could stick on the door glass to remind you as you exited the car.

[Outside Dawg]

I think most parents, especially parents with 3+ kids, can look back at some instance of negligence in the raising of their kids that could have ended badly.
I once lost track of an 8 year old at Disney World. That could have ended badly and I'm sure I would have been judged as a bad parent by some but I would have also been judged if I had her on a leash.
I'm not equating this to forgetting a child in a locked car but I don't feel it's my place to judge someone that has this happen. My guess is that what they have to deal with for the rest of their life is brutal.
My kids are now 23, 22, and 19 and I'm thankful for getting them through their childhood relatively safely.
Discussions like this are very helpful for parents of small children because its just another reminder of how diligent you have to be to be a parent in this busy world in which we live.

As a parent to a 5 and 2 year old, this rings true to me. Ive read the news stories of this happening and its scary. I dont think my wife or I have ever come close to accidentally leaving them in the car, but I also dont think most of these things happen because the parent is a bad parent. I assume their mind got busy and they are as terrified and horrified as I would be in their situation. I have literally read these stories and prayed that it never happens to me or my wife. That said, I am also not arrogant enough to believe that some series of unfortunate circumstances couldn't happen and I make a life changing mistake, in any of a million ways. I think many of you are spot on. You just have to be ever diligent as parent, all the time, and even then hoping that your innocent mistakes aren't life altering.

[PCHSDawg]

You could leave your phone, wallet, briefcase etc int the back with the kids.

[Tbonewannabe]

I saw a thing where a kid designed some kind of neon strap that goes across the door. You have to unhook it to get out but it reminds you the kid is in the car. You only connect it if they are in the car so it isn't something you get in the habit of unhooking.

[PSYCHO(thesis)DEFENSE]

Great ideas, will employ a version of these when we start daycare. As Missouridawg said automatic processing plays a huge role in how the brain works. Controlled processing requires attention, which is a precious cognitive resource that can only be allocated one place at a time. Hence why texting and driving is such a problem, you can only attend to one or other. Anybody that thinks they are doing both simultaneously are actually switching attention from one to the other. Not to say I'm not incredibly guilty. If you are attending to something else when you pull into work, whether it be the day's tasks or a phone call or radio show, it requires controlled processing, i.e. effort & attention to check the backseat. Using external methods like the ones described above, rather than relying on your own fallible brain, is the best way to improve your memory.

[EngDawg]

In a nation of 300+ million people, Shit will happen to some people for no apparent reason other than Shit happens. Best we can do is to recognize that Shit happens and try and reduce the amount of times it occurs.

[starkvegasdawg]

Type out the words "kids" in 84 font and tape it to your rear view mirror or instrument cluster.

[TUSK]

Type out the words "kids" in 84 font and tape it to your rear view mirror or instrument cluster.

I don't believe that's enough, 34...

Perhaps it should read "Your child is in an oven... Please take out."....

[starkvegasdawg]

I don't believe that's enough, 34...

Perhaps it should read "Your child is in an oven... Please take out."....

"Your kids are not named Hansel and Gretel. Get them out of the back seat you wicked witch."