> 130 kids killed per year in US locked in hot car

[magreen]

I just read this article: Text

I could barely keep it together as I read that article.

I know the article is long. Cliffs:
15-25 parents per year in the US alone kill their child through leaving the child in a locked car in the heat. It happens to seemingly responsible and irresponsible parents, men, women, educated, uneducated. It's the most horrific thing I can think of.
And it didn't start happening with any frequency until they made the regulation that child car seats must be in the back seats and rear-facing.

As the parent of 4 children, I am absolutely terrified thinking that I could be just as susceptible to the combination of stress, changed routine, distraction, lack of sleep, etc. that makes it so easy to forget the most precious thing you have in this world.

Does anybody know of any way to buy, craft, design, or jerry-rig a device that would remind you by beeping when you have a child in a car seat as you turn off the car or open the door? Just like it beeps if you leave the headlights on, or you open the door with your keys in the car?

It's obviously so horribly horribly necessary.

Sorry for the incredibly depressing thread!

EDIT: the number is 133 kids per year in U.S. according to http://www.kidsincars.org and http://www.thingamababy.com/ba...007/07/babysafety.html.

 

[bsobel]

http://www.thingamababy.com/ba...007/07/babysafety.html

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

I saw something on the news a couple of years ago. They suggested when you get into the car to put your cell phone in your back seat.

That way if you leave your kid by accident, you'll remember your cell-phone and go get it. :|

 

[Fear No Evil]

See! Global warming does kill!

 

[Zenmervolt]

Volvo's PCC system has heartbeat detection that causes the key fob to flash an LED and to vibrate if a living being is inside the locked car. Nifty system.

ZV

 

[dphantom]

I just can't imagine how anyone could possibly forget their child.

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: dphantom
I just can't imagine how anyone could possibly forget their child.

Exactly.
If your life has become so hectic that you can just forget you got your small child in the back seat. Do the kid a favor and either change your life or give up the kid for adoption.

 

[XMan]

I leave my ignition key in the ignition and pull the door lock key out of it. Has anybody seen those new keys? They're actually pretty sweet. It's great in winter too; you can lock the doors, leave the engine running, and still get back in the car. It's a lot easier than chasing a two-year old all over Circle K.

It looks like this.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: magreen

Does anybody know of any way to buy, craft, design, or jerry-rig a device that would remind you by beeping when you have a child in a car seat as you turn off the car or open the door? Just like it beeps if you leave the headlights on, or you open the door with your keys in the car?

same sort of sensor that uses weight in the seat to tell if there is a passenger in the front seat and turn off the airbag if necessary.

 

[Rustler]

This should be labeled under STUPIDITY................I live in Phoenix AZ and we have a couple of deaths a year from this...............same can be said about not watching your kids around the pool.........

Give me a break on the stress, lack of sleep it is just plain stupidity and irresponsibility.................................

 

[Lemon law]

The OP asks if their is some sort of device to warn you against the dangers.

There is indeed such a device, its called the human brain, but sadly it malfunctions with distressing regularity.

 

[Hacp]

15-25 out of how many? I say we just ignore these idiots and let natural selection take its course.

 

[jpeyton]

Why waste time/resources to develop a device that would only save 25 measly lives?

 

[magreen]

Originally posted by: bsobel
http://www.thingamababy.com/ba...007/07/babysafety.html

Thanks bsobel. That's a great web page. And it puts the number much higher, at 133 kids/yr in the US.

I completely agree with the sentiment that we need to lobby congress to require these devices in car seats.

But before we would pressure government to impose this, we have to answer a question to which I can't figure out the answer. There's lots of carseat manfucturers, and they all are competing to be the safest. Why isn't there a single manufacturer putting even one carseat on the market with such a device?

I can guess at an answer: stigma. Nobody would admit to being irresponsible enough to actually do such a thing. And you'd have to admit to it to spring for the fancy carseat with the extra $20 feature.

If that is the reason, then that's all the more reason to lobby Congress to require this of all carseats. That way, it's not a stigma if you buy one -- everybody's gotta do it.

And I think that stigma might be the response we're seeing from some posters in this thread, that only stupid people do this, etc., and I think it's counterproductive. Yes, it's unbelievably horrible and stupid to do something like this. But ridiculously stressful days happen to everybody, especially parents (!), even good parents, and it only takes one time for the worst to happen. If you read through the article I posted at the top, the end of it goes through the physiological/neurological reasons that this can happen to people, that the most important things for them to remember get pushed out of their brains.

 

[Hacp]

Originally posted by: magreen

Originally posted by: bsobel
http://www.thingamababy.com/ba...007/07/babysafety.html

Thanks bsobel. That's a great web page. And it puts the number much higher, at 133 kids/yr in the US.

I completely agree with the sentiment that we need to lobby congress to require these devices in car seats.

But before we would pressure government to impose this, we have to answer a question to which I can't figure out the answer. There's lots of carseat manfucturers, and they all are competing to be the safest. Why isn't there a single manufacturer putting even one carseat on the market with such a device?

I can guess at an answer: stigma. Nobody would admit to being irresponsible enough to actually do such a thing. And you'd have to admit to it to spring for the fancy carseat with the extra $20 feature.

If that is the reason, then that's all the more reason to lobby Congress to require this of all carseats. That way, it's not a stigma if you buy one -- everybody's gotta do it.

And I think that stigma might be the response we're seeing from some posters in this thread, that only stupid people do this, etc., and I think it's counterproductive. Yes, it's unbelievably horrible and stupid to do something like this. But ridiculously stressful days happen to everybody, especially parents (!), even good parents, and it only takes one time for the worst to happen. If you read through the article I posted at the top, the end of it goes through the physiological/neurological reasons that this can happen to people, that the most important things for them to remember get pushed out of their brains.

Thats 20 to 30 dollars everyone has to pay for the mistakes of a few idiots. I'm sure you'll volunteer your 20 dollars first. You can send it to my PO Box.

 

[magreen]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
Why waste time/resources to develop a device that would only save 25 measly lives?

I updated the OP that it's 133 kids/yr in US according to http://www.thingamababy.com/ba...007/07/babysafety.html

 

[child of wonder]

Why don't car manufacturers install a device in the seat belts that first sets off a quiet beep at 5 mins that can easily be turned off via a button on the car remote or a button in the cab. If that button is not pushed at 10 mins the AC comes on and the car alarm goes off.

But, it would take decades for this to be in all cars.

Another scenario would be for all new carseats to have a thermometer in them. If temp exceeds 85F an audible and visual alarm goes off. Better yet, have the thermometer capable of tying in with the car's horn and headlights.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

And it didn't start happening with any frequency until they made the regulation that child car seats must be in the back seats and rear-facing.

All these solutions you guys are suggesting and no one suggests the obvious, simplest one?

 

[smack Down]

Originally posted by: magreen

Originally posted by: jpeyton
Why waste time/resources to develop a device that would only save 25 measly lives?

I updated the OP that it's 133 kids/yr in US according to http://www.thingamababy.com/ba...007/07/babysafety.html

Your stat of 133 kids/yr includes all kids killed by being left alone in a car/near a car.

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: XMan
I leave my ignition key in the ignition and pull the door lock key out of it. Has anybody seen those new keys? They're actually pretty sweet. It's great in winter too; you can lock the doors, leave the engine running, and still get back in the car. It's a lot easier than chasing a two-year old all over Circle K.

It looks like this.

Not that new, my 99 benz had it too

 

[XMan]

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: XMan
I leave my ignition key in the ignition and pull the door lock key out of it. Has anybody seen those new keys? They're actually pretty sweet. It's great in winter too; you can lock the doors, leave the engine running, and still get back in the car. It's a lot easier than chasing a two-year old all over Circle K.

It looks like this.

Not that new, my 99 benz had it too

It goes in the expensive cars first, duh. Obviously it takes 10 years to trickle down to the stuff the rest of us drive.

 

[RU482]

what a tool. IF you have an idea for a product that is not on the market....figure out a way to design/manufacture/market the thing and friggen profit!!!! Don't come to a forum and spew more static noise fear (in the name of "informing the public")

 

[RoloMather]

So how many kids/year die because they shoot themselves? I'm guessing ~ the same.

 

[BoberFett]

there must be some device to remind you of your child in the carseat!

Yes, it's called the brain. Sadly, many parents lack that tool.

 

[Lanyap]

Originally posted by: dphantom
I just can't imagine how anyone could possibly forget their child.

They are probably talking on their cell phones.