ST. GEORGE – An 11-month-old girl discovered unresponsive Friday after being left in a hot vehicle in Hurricane was the 20th child under the age of 15 to die of vehicular-related heat stroke in the U.S. this year, according to incidents documented by KidsAndCars.org. As temperatures start to climb, the number of children who die in vehicles also starts to rise and according to the Kids and Cars website, vehicular heat stroke is largely misunderstood by the general public.
Today in Southern Utah: Baby dies after being left inside vehicle in high temperatures
“Nobody ever thinks something like this could happen to them, until it does,” Deborah Hersman, National Safety Council president and CEO, said. “Unfortunately, every summer, dozens of children die as a result of high temperatures inside of cars. These unintended mistakes can devastate families ….”
KidsAndCars.org has also noted an increase in the number of heat stroke deaths this year involving children who have entered unlocked vehicles on their own. On a national basis, for the past 20 years, approximately 30 percent of children die in hot cars when they get inside on their own.
While most parents think this could never happen to them or their family, children continue to lose their lives in hot cars. “Whether they are unknowingly left alone in a vehicle or somehow gain access on their own, parents and families across the country are forced to endure the worst tragedy imaginable,” Janette Fennell, president and founder of KidsAndCars.org, said.
Faster than you might imagine
It’s called hyperthermia or heat stroke and it can happen faster than one might imagine. In just ten minutes, a car’s temperature can increase by 19 degrees – and continues to rise. Children or animals left inside a vehicle quickly overheat, resulting in devastating injury, permanent brain damage or death.
Studies done by the Department of Earth & Climate Sciences show that these incidents can occur on days with relatively mild – 70 degrees – temperatures and that vehicles can reach life-threatening temperatures very rapidly. Children overheat three to five times faster than adults. Even in 70 degree weather, a vehicle can reach a life-threatening temperature in just minutes.
Cracking the windows or using a window shield shade has little to no effect on maintaining a temperature inside the car that is safe for small children.
These tragedies can happen to anyone
The reality is that many of these deaths are a result of forgetfulness rather than neglect or poor judgment, occurring when distracted but otherwise responsible parents or caretakers inadvertently leave a child in the car – a horrible mistake through a tragic convergence of circumstances. A mistake of memory that delivers a lifelong sentence of guilt far greater than any a judge or jury could hand down.
Most parents would like to believe that they could never “forget” their child in a vehicle, but according to the Kids and Cars website, that is the most dangerous mistake a parent or caregiver can make, thinking it cannot happen to them or their family.
“Over half of juvenile vehicular hyperthermia fatalities occur when a caregiver is somehow distracted and accidentally leaves a child in a vehicle,” Jan Null, a leading researcher on hot vehicles, children and heat stroke, said. “And in nearly half of these cases, the child was supposed to be dropped off at either childcare or preschool. These cases happen to parents, grandparents, siblings and child care providers. It is often a matter of a change of routine, where one person normally is responsible for a child and on a given day another person forgets they have the responsibility that day.”
Yet these tragedies are preventable
“Most parents try to take every precaution to childproof their homes, but unfortunately many parents do not realize the importance of childproofing their car,” Fennell said. “Vehicles should always be locked, even if they are in the garage or driveway. Also, parents should ensure that any inoperable vehicles that may be in their neighborhood are always locked so curious children cannot get inside.”
Safety Tips from KidsAndCars.org:
- Never leave children alone in or around cars; not even for a minute
- Put something you’ll need like your cell phone, handbag, employee ID or brief case on the floorboard in the backseat underneath the child’s car seat
- Look before you lock – Get in the habit of always opening the back door of your vehicle every time you reach your destination to make sure no child has been left behind. This will soon become a habit
- Keep a large stuffed animal in the child’s car seat when it’s not occupied. When the child is placed in the seat, put the stuffed animal in the front passenger seat. It’s a visual reminder that anytime the stuffed animal is up front you know the child is in the back seat in a child safety seat
- Make arrangements with your child’s day care center or babysitter that you will always call if your child will not be there on a particular day as scheduled
- Make sure all child passengers have left the vehicle after it is parked
- Keep vehicles locked at all times; even in the garage or driveway
- Keys and remote openers should never be left within reach of children
- When a child is missing, check vehicles and car trunks immediately
- If you see a child alone in a vehicle, get involved. If they are hot or seem sick, get them out as quickly as possible. Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately
- Be especially careful about keeping children safe in and around cars during busy times, schedule changes and periods of crisis or holidays
- Use drive-thru services when available for things like restaurants, banks, pharmacies, and dry cleaners
- Use your debit or credit card to pay for gas at the pump
Resources
- Statistics and charts specific to child vehicular heat stroke
- KidsAndCars.org’s petition to the White House calling for technology to stop children from being left in vehicles
- Ways to keep children safe in and around vehicles
Related posts
- Baby dies after being left inside vehicle in high temperatures
- Did you forget something? Don’t make this deadly summertime mistake
- Drowning, leading cause of death in children under 5; what you should know
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2014, all rights reserved.
Until the circumstances come out completely, I think all of us judging should wait to spew off. I am sure that somebody will, and should be held accountable for this.
Some things happen that we never can completely understand. Who am I to judge someone else’s situation when I cannot judge my own on certain occasions? For those of you who know there is a God, you ought to remember Peter’s declaration: Think it no big thing as if some strange thing happened to you. Ask a psychologist how memories work. We have different ways of remembering. This was probably not done out of negligence. Even if it was, we should be slow to criticize or find fault, and give the Lord the upper hand. He is the One who Knows All. We are so finite and limited. What ultimately matters is what’s in the heart.
I agree .. period …
This was very informative but did the parent get arrested?? I have 2 children and there is no distraction where you would forget your child. This is an excuse to mask utter stupidity! People want and need excuses because they cannot take responsibility for themselves. I do agree that there are accidents where a child may enter a parked car or hide in the trunk through the access hole from the backseat. This is a Tragedy that any child or animal dies from heat in a locked car. I feel for the family if this was an accident. I wish for full prosecution if it was negligence to forget your child you need be locked up out of society if you are that Stupid!
I don’t understand it either Greg. I raised two children. They were never off my mind. I always new they were in the car. I don’t understand how you don’t know you have a child in the car. How does one forget that you put a child in the car. I mean if you have dementia or Alzheimer’s I can understand forgetting. But an otherwise “normal” person, I don’t understand it. Please understand that comments of you must be perfect, don’t cast the first stone, don’t judge and so on do not help me understand. Really and truly I need something to help me understand how one forgets a child is in the car- no matter the distraction. Distraction and mistake do not give me the answer to how someone forgets a child is in the car. So can anyone tell me a deeper reason how someone forgets a child is in the car. Before I become judmental
Are they on antidepressants? Are they selfish? Are they spiritually dead? Give me something. I do realize it could happen to any color, any race, rich or poor. But what is the cause. There has to be a common denominator in them all
This is not something for u to understand…Truly it’s none of your business. Prayers to my friends..Sorry for ur loss
Its in the paper. Its my business. And truly I am sorry for your friend also
OK! Have you considered there is an innocent child dead because of the parent or parent’s negligence.
You will think more clearly later after the anger passes Greg . All parents love there children the same.
Not true…they don’t all love the same
Obviously u were not loved the same
Obviously Amy, otherwise how would I know that’s not true.
It is carelessness, stupidity, and just bs ! How can anyone just forget your child in the car! Its not a loaf of bread or groceries! If you are too busy to take your child out of the car don’t have children!!!!!!
It is sad to think that putting something you need like your cell phone or wallet in the back seat will help you to remember that your child is back there… What a sad world we live in.
I don’t think it’s sad at all…i think it’s a brilliant suggestion. Whatever works. You can condemn this family all you want but…..really?!? This isn’t all 20 babies who have died this year, this is an article about one. Before you malign and stone these parents….what do you guys know that no one else knows? Who was driving and how could they see the baby over the backrest of the seats? Were they aware of where the child was in the car? Did the person driving have a distraction? Were they on a phone? Could there be any other reason that something this tragic could happen?
Does any parent reading this think that putting this baby’s parents in jail is going to do anything beyond satisfy public outrage? I would think the inner-rage (and abject horror) they must be experiencing is probably enough. They lost a child people…think about the crap these parents are going to be reading in your comments!
I couldn’t agree more San…Prayers to the family
Whatever works?! Are you serious? What SHOULD work is simply the fact that you have a HUMAN BEING in the back seat!!!
My kids were not quiet, so understand that i didn’t have an opportunity to forget about them. I have a lack of understanding and perhaps not the even the people that it happens too understand how it happens but there has to be a reason so deep, so deep that no one talks about it.
This is very tragic and I’m not looking down on anyone. I’m just trying to understand. Cuz I know im not immune to it. It could happen to me.
Forgetting and leaving are two different things. You can forget and then remember. But to leave is well, should I say it….no, I’ll just say negligent at the highest degree.
Someone should be prosecuted. There is no excuse in the world for this.
NO EXCUSES, this should never happen period.
Unfortunately, parents in southern Utah tend to be extremely self-absorbed in their images and looks that they seem to forget about reality and now. Did cell phone conversation and imaginary drama take precedence over caring for the child? Was it perceived necessity to do some church calling that took priority? Was it spending time in front of the mirror preening and grooming to obtain that desired look (image) that was the distraction? Was it just immaturity as a parent, fault of the local culture that seems to tell girls to hurry up and start having babies even though you’re not mature enough or financially secure to support them? I seem to think it’s the culture. Let kids grow up and become adults before they start having kids.
What a waste of life. There is no excuse for this. If you can’t take care of your kids don’t have them. Give them up for adoption. There is no excuse here at all! I say hang the sob responsible make an example.
Sorry for your loss. I wish some of the ‘people’ leaving comments could have some self control. If you (commenters) were talking to these people face to face, you would never say what you’ve been typing. Most people, I hope, would not just walk along in life, kicking anyone who happened to be hurting around them. Reading the comments here gives me little hope for humanity.
When you consider that we live in a country of over 300 mil and a huge portion of those being total idiots I’d say the death toll is very low and acceptable. I’m not sure why I’m hearing about this ‘baby roasting in the car’ phenomenon so much more this year than I ever have before, because obviously it’s happened just as much in years past. Seems pretty stupid and idiotic in its own right.
Excellent, informative story. Hopefully it saves a child’s life.
I have a friend this happened to . For Them it was a chaotic morning when the normal routine was changed , the husband who normally takes the baby to the sitters could not on this morning , he puts the baby in the wife’s car , she was aware , it was the plan they agreed on. Both cars had covered baby car seats. The wife got into her car and left at the same time the husband did. In the chaos the wife forgot and went into a store for 40 minutes. You know the rest of the story. That was many years ago. The pain is never forgotten .
Why are the names not being released? If someone gets pulled over and arrested for no car insurance, the papers and news sources have no problem plastering their face all over their sites. If you cause a disturbance requiring police intervention, the news will give their name, photo, and even their address! Yet, somehow, killing a baby in a hot car does not warrant the name?
Someone must be connected to law enforcement or a city worker…
Relax your conspiracy accusations. The reason we know the names of those arrested is arrests are public record. As for now, no one involved has been arrested. The police are not obligated to disclose the names of those involved. The press, if they know the names is probably giving the family privacy. That is respectable until the point where it is determined they need to be charged with a crime.
They report names of significant events even when charges are not filed.
She decided to leave her baby in the hot car so she could ‘just run in and go in to the bathroom’. Then ‘a significant amount of time later’, she walks out to ‘discover’ the baby in the car?
Excuse me, but if a parent ‘forgot’ to put medication away and a kind took them and died- charges would be filed, even if it was an ‘accident’. If a mother left her kids unattended in a vehicle in a parking lot, charges would be filed. When a death like this is involved, there should be charges filed.
If there are not charges brought against this ‘good mother’, then yes, the good-ol-boy system is at work in Hurricane.
You guys win the very poor taste award. A mortuary ad within this tragic news story.
This comment proves your ignorance, Phil. Ads are cycled randomly within page segments of the site. The ad you saw was not placed there on purpose.
This is an incredible family. If one of your own children had made this mistake you would never be so harsh. There is already an outpouring of love and sympathy for this family in Hurricane because anyone who knows them realizes there was no malice intended and their suffering is far greater than any legal action would do to them.
Absolutely, the guilt alone is tormenting. Mistake? Mmmmmmm don’t like that word for this situation. Neglect would be more appropriate. It is what it is. You can’t make excuses for it. They will be tormented for a long time, indeed. Intentions may not have been malice but you don’t need malice for it to be neglect.
Hey LadyBugAvenger, you save insects..stick with that. I know these people and apparently u make assumptions. You have argued with everyone on here. No one cares doll whether u don’t like the word mistake and prefer the word neglect… We all get judged at the end, and I would rather helping rather than hurting the situation concerning this amazing family. Mind ur own …* business, and go pick on some other grieving family. Or e-mail me and I can come kick ur Lady bug lovin …*
Ed. ellipses: …*
Bring it on
You must not have read comments. Because I did not judge. I made clear it could happen to me. I made clear of the torment the person must be going through torment from guilt of leaving a child in the car…( empathy right there). But I also say there is no excuse. It happened, you gotta take responsibily for it. Not make excuses for it. Thats the only way to heal. You want to threaten me, ‘ll let you throw the first punch/ kick that way ill just defend myself and you get arrested for assault.
I’ll use your word, mistake. If someone makes a mistake and someone gets injured or dies….there is negligence causing bodily harm or injury. However, in this case it caused death. Whether or not charges are filed I don’t know, Surprise! I’m not the DA. But you defend this person. And I say a child is dead because of this persons actions. If it was my child that this person left in the car, I would be very angry. How about if it was your child that this person left in the car and caused death. Would be so willing to kick my ***.and so willing to come to their defense?
I agree that forgiveness needs to be done. But its a process to truly forgive In ones heart. Its easy to say “I forgive you” but ones heart can be so different than one’s word. Forgiveness needs to be done not because what the person did wasn’t wrong. But because if we don’t truly forgive someone for whatever they did, the anger will hurt the person that’s is unforgiving. So we forgive so we can move on, not because the person deserves it. When we forgive we are not saying what the person is right. We do it for ourselves to move on. I forgive you for threatening me.
I think it’s worse when people let their babies get ate by those terrible pitbull things. I mean anyone can forget things in the car. mistakes happen
Troll
“Nobody thinks it could happen” is the problem. You should always be paranoid it could happen! Children are a gift! Enough said!!!!
@all the people who say don’t judge, do you also not judge,the drunk driver who slams his car,into a car with a family in it and kills them all, he lives with the guilt the rest of his life,should he not do prison time, maybe he was texting a girl or BBQing and lost count of how much he drank,then made the mistake o driving his car. It was just a mistake he has to live with the rest of his life,right?
ALLCON,
I know that there are some cases of neglect when a tragedy like this happens. I also know that 99.9% of you all commenting do not know this family at all. Do you?
If you did you would know that they have other children and they were All happy and care free until this Horrible accident. That they are loved by the community and do what they can for it. They help others even if it means they might have to go without.
So judge not for whom you do not know. They are in Judgement of themselves and need love and prayers. We all make mistakes and sometimes a tragedy might happen. Most of the time we are just LUCKY that something bad didn’t happen.
If you think you are so righteous then why are you still here with us and not seated at the hand of GOD? You aren’t so righteous your just lucky. When some mistake you make has such a dear price are you ready to get back 10 fold from what you have given?
Do you think you could understand the feelings they feel from their mistake. Can you understand the Pain you might be inflicting on those already DEVASTATED? If you don not then think before you speak like you grandmother said. if you don’t care then I am embarrassed of you being in the same human race.
God Bless Our Friends in Hurricane, Ut
/r
CC
It seems sad that we need to be reminded of so many thing in this hectic world we live in. With so many distractions it is amazing we make it through each day safe and sane. My heart goes out to those who have lost a child. I can not fathom the pain or anguish that is going through their mind,heart,soul. I just wonder, if they can make a warning buzzer to remind you, that you left lights on or your keys in the ignition. Can they make one to signal something left on the back seat of the car? Just a thought.
I have no sympathy for…. None. Zero. Zilch. So she was in a hurry to go to the bathroom, (per Deseret News article.) So what? Getting to the restroom was more important than getting her baby out of the car?
And then after using the bathroom, she “forgets” the baby in the car? I’m thinking this is more than negligence, it is depraved indifference. And I am hoping that social services will take a long hard look at this situation, to see how much danger she places her other kids in, on a daily basis.
To all of you bleeding hearts that are defending this “lady,” my only comment is that your hearts should be bleeding for the dead baby, rather than her killer. And that is exactly what … is.
Ed. ellipses.
Didn’t know that last of the story of going to the bathroom. That shows intent to leave child in car. With that info… I agree its more than negligence
Us “bleeding hearts” are really just fueling your fires. Have fun playing God evil twin..I am out. God bless this family
Your heart should be bleeding Amy a child lost its life at 11 months old at the hand and actions of another. It was preventable and shouldn’t have happened. But it did. Everybody that is commenting, i would hope, has a bleeding heart for that child. That’s why there’s an outrage.
She said that “if only she hadn’t been out of her routine”. So she needs to be in a “routine” to take care of her own child. This is a perfect example of someone that doesn’t deserve to have children. What if she gets out of routine with her other two kids?
I don’t know about anyone else, but for me…there has ways been a conciquence and I always had to pay, one way or another, for “mistakes” I’ve made. So to you that say I’m judging, I’m attacking a family, if I’m righteous why am I not sitting at the right hand throne of God? What are you talking about? A child has lost its life because of the actions of another. Should there be no consequence? That doesn’t mean I’m hating anyone or think I’m better than someone. I always have to pay for my actions, at work, at home, in life, in my past, in my present, and in my future.
I’ve been tormented, I’ve been stalked, I’ve been persecuted, I’ve lost everything including my children through persecution. I have been sought after like a piece of meat for kill. I’ve been enraged, I’ve been angry, ive been hateful, ive been persecuted, I’ve been redeemed, I’ve been healed, I’ve been forgiven, I’ve been restored…..so don’t think I’m judging anyone and that’s why I know the torment this family is going through. But that does not mean there should not be a consequence.
Im not going to say I know what its like to have a child die…I don’t know that. But I know what torment is. Nor do I know what it feels like to lose a child at my own hands….but I know torment. And that’s why right now, I’m going to say thank you Jesus
If you truely knew Jesus you would not say the things you do. Your heart is hardened!
No my friend. That would be you
I Could not agree w/ u more Concerned!!…L.B.A. has made this all about her while playing God…Her heinousness is too busy looking down telling everyone what they should do and how… The book according to Ladybug Avenger!!! Can we get a signed copy???
There are so many babies and children that die this way every year. It is so sad for the families I agree. But then you get a DA who says “Well the family is grieving enough” and don’t charge the parent with a crime. I think they should at least be charged with neglect at the least. Because it was their neglect that cause the child’s death. Maybe if more parents were charged then many would wake up and think of their child first. No one seems to be thinking about this baby that lost its life. I can tell you that the way this baby died was an excruciating way to go.
The police should check her phone and make sure she didn’t text, call, or receive a call at the time her child was in the car. Because dang, how can leaving a.child in the car be forgotten for a period of time that causes death. My children are grown up and they are still on my mind- making sure they are OK. And I don’t get any parent of the year award but their safety( even tho they are out of my house) is important to me even as adults. I don’t care what a GREAT family this is. A child died in a hot car. Not so great. She should be held accountable for her actions , just like the drug dealer down the street
ladybugavenger, did u escape a mental ward or what?…
Nice one Bob haha
You are not wrapped tightly dear
Or what?
Amy you really have a problem with me and there is no defense to this tragedy of a child being left in car. i am not judging your friend. I am looking at a child that died at the hands of a person
( I don’t know what relation the person is, I’m not going to assume its the mother) I am very sorry for the loss. However, there should be consequences to actions, either good or bad. I must be hitting close to your heart to make you so hateful towards me. An 11 month old loss their life and somebody needs to be held accountable. God holds me and everyone else hold me accountable for.my actions so being this is your friend she should be held accountable also. That doesn’t mean don’t love her and don’t support her. Please continue to love and support your friend through this tragic situation. However, if my son or daughter kills somebody on accident, as a mistake, or on purpose will stand by his sor her side while he or hef is held accountable and sent to jail for his or her actions. And I would have a plea and apology to the family. So Amy please don’t hate me anymore. I am not an evil person. Nor is your friend because i dont think this rises to the intent of 1st or second degree murder.
There is a justice of accountability that people, like myself, want to see. I’m not blind spiritually, or emotionally, or mentally, or physically. There just needs to be accountability when a death occurs. For me, for you, for your friend, for everyone
you sound like a loose cannon…
That’s cute I have gotten u to just go on and on today. Thanks for ur life story btw; sure evryone appreciated you making this about yourself instead of this family. Good luck on the “no judgement” thing. Clearly you are well on your way. God Bless Ya! Hope u get out soon!
Amy, you made this about me….remember you threatened to kick my …*? For defending an 11 month old child that died because forgot them in a car…a hot car at that
Ed. ellipsis: …*
At first i was trying to understand how it happens. But now i know how. I’m standing up for an 11 month old child that died in a car because someone ” forgot” they were there. You can call me what ever name you want. Put whatever label you want on me. You can hate me, you can say mean things about me. Ya, these things hurt but not as bad as the hurt the child suffered through while dying in a hot car.
You laugh Amy at Bob asking if I escaped from a mental ward. Really? You are gonna laugh. This is about an 11 month dying because someone left them in a hot car. And you are gonna laugh and Bob you call me a looe cannon. I share my pain and my heart and I get laughed at. I shared it so you can see where I come from and you laugh and make fun of me. I’ll stand for this child all day long, all month long, all year long. However long you keep laughing at me. Remember this is about an 11 month old who died because someone “forgot” and left them in a car…..remember its a HOT car so he/ she died a long painful death. And you chose me to hate on.
I do hope the DA picks up this case so you can laugh at them and I won’t have to fight anymore. But if they don’t keep laughing at Amy and Bob. Keep making comments about me.
Out of all the people commenting you chose me to hate on and literally petitioned me to email you so you can kiick my ***. That just shows me I’m on the right track. May the person be held accountable for this incredibly tragic death. And may Bob and Amy stop looking at me…I didn’t cause a death of a child
THE END.
11-month old left in an automobile, an innocent infant dead because of the carelessness of a parent. Couple has other children, has CPS’s investigated. What is going on? Why no arrest? There is no excuse for this sort of negligence. A responsible parent knows exactly where their infant child is every minute. The parent responsible for the death of this small defenseless child needs to prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Just because your able physically to have children does not guarantee your mentally capable of bearing and raising them. If the law would hold more parents responsible for their actions with severe remedies these type of senseless deaths would cease.
“He who is without sin cast the first stone”. What parent hasn’t made a human error that “could ” have resulted in the death of a child? Shame on anyone who judges this mother. Her pain will never go away!
I would actually say to anyones face what I am about to say now, and I have actually said this in the past to people up front a few times. There is absolutly NO excuse for being so forgetful that you can not even remember a child that is sitting in the back of you. Young, old, medicated or not you are the one responsible for your children and no one else. I was a very young mother (no I did not grow up here in Utah) and I could not even imagine leaving my child in a car unattended regardless if it was hot or cold! I have never even left my young child in a running car. If you cannot take your child with you when you leave the car, dont leave the car. If whatever you are doing is that important so should taking your child along with you. It doesnt matter the circumstances and I really could care less how this happen the fact is that it did happen and it should not have. These people killed their children, there is no other way to explain it. They were intrusted to raise this innocent soul and they failed horribly. Argue with me all you want on this and tell me that I have never been in their shoes. You are right, I have never been in their shoes because I am smarter then that. Wake up people, society is allowing such disregard for human life because of stupidy and society is sypathizing with ignorance. We should all say a prayer (whatever your religion is) for these children and the unselfish family members that are grieving.
LOL @ all these busybody women commenting … sound like idiots… you and that avenger lady… LOL’d
You still laughing Bob….interesting. Remember what this story is about. And you throw in a LOL’d.