My regularly scheduled, fun-filled dinnertime with the kids was interrupted by my toddler coming to my side, pointing to her nose and saying “Momma, Nose”. At which point, I realized she’d shoved a pony bead up her nostril. A pony bead isn’t something I normally have just laying around my house, but the library had their craft night last night and we made necklaces and the knot let go while I was making dinner. So, 9-1-1 was dispatched, arrived, announced they didn't have the right tool for the job so off we went to the ER instead. Popsicles for both kids, in the car to keep my littlest from shoving it any further up. She's fine now. My heart rate is back to normal. And to think I nearly made it to my oldest's 4th birthday without a trip to the ER for a foreign body removal!
It’s just a reminder (as if we don't get them every single day) that we just can’t take anything for granted. It’s been in the news with the hot summer the 18th child has passed away as a result of being left in a car. And child fatalities like this usually peak in July. (Source) There was also an article I read this month in a parenting magazine that profiled a family that lost a child from being forgotten in the car. I think it’s far too easy to remove yourself from the situation with the words “I could never forget my child”. I’ve heard it from many parents. In listening to the story when it was covered on the local news station, they said 10-15 minutes can be enough to overtake a child’s body. And scientific testing has proven that cracking a window does basically nothing to alter the temperature of a car on a hot day. I’m not saying I ever leave my children alone in the car. But, I’ve started making sure I turn the car on with air before I run in to grab that sippy cup that was left on the washing machine once everyone’s been buckled in. 10 minutes isn’t long…
A change in route is often cited as a contributing cause when a child is forgotten. For instance, a different parent/family member takes the child to school than normal and the child falls asleep on the way. I worried about this a lot when my husband came home from deployment and our son was 14 months old. He was still rear-facing at the time. We used the teddy bear trick. Or right now, my preschooler is at VBS this week & I'm toting around only 1 child in the morning. Definitely not my norm & something I'm being very cautious about this week.
Suggestions of how to protect your child include:
-Keep a stuffed animal or doll in the car seat and move it to the passenger side in the front seat when you buckle your child in.
-Ask your child’s daycare or sitter to call if your child is 5-10 minutes late for their normal drop off without prior notice.
-Leave your purse, employee badge, cell phone, lunch bag, whatever in the back seat with the child so you can’t leave the car without seeing them.
- Keep your key fobs in a place where children cannot touch them, ever.
There are also more technical (read expensive) reminders out there if you want to go that route.
Car Seat Monitor
The ChildMinder System
Baby Safety Line
Baby Bee Safe
Also noted in the article I read was a call to the public at large. If you see a child in a car, it's not the time to wonder where the parent is, think about calling 911 or assuming someone else already has. Get the child out of the car immediately, by any way possible. Not just at the part, but in your work parking lot- you know, where Mr. Smith drove instead of dropping Jane off at daycare because his wife's car was in the shop. It can happen anywhere, to anyone. And YOU could save lives... Cars and their parts can always be replaced. Children simply cannot.
My heart goes out to the families that have lost a child or children (one noted death was of 2 year old twins in the grandma’s car- they locked themselves in with a key fob...). I never want to be able to relate to that pain. And I pray that those babies have found a peace that surrounds them with healing comfort now & that no more need follow.
For more information, including other vehicle safety information try: KidsandCars.org
8 hours ago
great reminders! That is so very sad for the families who have lost children in this way. My girls are old enough and vocal enough that they would just speak up or get out on their own. But even bringing enough water to drink and cooling the car down ahead of time are things I should do more often.
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