It seems like every other day I hear about yet another child who was forgotten in the back seat of a car and died of heatstroke. The two latest deaths occurred last Thursday and Saturday, which put the death toll at 14 and it's only the beginning of summer. What is going on?
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In last Thursday's case, a father loaded his 23-month-old son into the car and then went back inside where he proceeded to get drunk and pass out. With the outside temperature at 90 or 91 degrees, there wasn't much left to do once his mom discovered him two hours later. Wayne Hubert has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, but all those who know him say he was a loving father and can't understand how this even happened.
In Saturday's case, a 3-year-old boy was found dead after his parents accidentally left him inside their car for four hours while they attended a family funeral. Police say the investigation so far has revealed this was a tragic accident that occurred out of confusion when they boy's parents Robert and Amanda Jo Anderson thought they had left him with the babysitter.
Confusion is a typical reason why tragedies like this happen. Some times it's a change in a routine when, for example, a dad has to drop off a child out of the blue when it's usually the mom who does it. Being distracted is another big reason. That's why one of the recommendations for those working to prevent more of these deaths is for parents not to be on the phone when they're in the car with their kids.
I've always thought it would be impossible for me to forget one of my children in the car, but experts say it can happen to any of us. Check out this checklist with great tips to prevent heatstroke and to make sure this never happens to you.
