While I read with interest this CNN article about people trying to design some type of warning system that would go off if a child was left in a hot car, my first reaction is still the reaction I have after reading the full article.
The easiest way to prevent a child or a pet for that matter from dying in a hot car is to use some common sense and not leave them in a car. I realize there have been some that have claimed they have "forgotten" their child but seriously, how many parents could actually "forget" their child. I have five and while one or two has tried to get away from me in a store and I've experienced a few moments of panic that one was lost, I've never forgotten one of them, called them the wrong name? Yes...
8 comments:
I am the father of a 16-year old and a 4-year old. In all my years as a parent, I never ONCE forgot that my child was in the car.
My wife of 15-years has NEVER forgotten that our kids were in the car.
Even my oldest daughter, though 16, I hesitate to allow her to sit in the car and listen to music while I run into a store for milk; the threat of a car-jacker is just too high. While she doesn't understand (she is the typical teen in thinking she has all the answers) I still insist that she come into the store with me.
Even on cool days, stopping at a station for gas, my 5-year old comes in with me, even though it will only be 1 or 2 minutes that I am in the store and I have full view of the car. I can replace a car should it be stolen, I can't replace my daughter.
My view: Common Sense. It's there – it's been there for thousands of years. We are making to many excuses for parents that lack the concern for their children.
They had too much on their mind, or they were distracted.
That is so much garbage. You should NEVER – EVER forget that you have a child. That child is your number one concern.
I totally agree Richard, we keep trying to legislate or create ways for people to do what in reality they should already know better than to do. No one should ever forget a child in a car, it's not like your purse or your keys or your wallet, it's a living human...
Seems to me the car ventilation system could activate after detecting a body (person or animal) in the car, or after detecting a certain temperature.
brigette.mitchell@google.com
Why do we need to go with all these devices that sense the presence of a child? Car manufacturers should take the initiative to install a variation of a very simple, relatively cheap solution that already exists. Add a strip of photovoltaic cells along one edge of the windshield, and wire them to the car's ventilation fan. Anytime the engine is not running, and there is enough sunlight to power it, the fan would start running, sucking in air from the outside, and blowing the hot interior air out. It won't keep the car particularly cool, but it should keep it at a survivable temperature. Even if there is no child in the car, this will make the interior more comfortable when the driver returns, and if there IS a child in the car, it won't matter if several hours pass before the parent remembers. The interior air will be constantly refreshed until the sunlight - and its dangerous heat - fade. It won't run down the car battery, either.
I can't see why any car manufacturer would balk at this. A cooler car for the owner, and lives of children (and pets) saved with no thought or effort on the driver's part. Win-Win! Would somebody please pass this along to Toyota, et al?
Why should I have to pay for some device on a car I DON'T NEED? YOu know what anonymous fool, you go and get that as an option, I don't need it, and I don't need to be automatically charged some extra money for someone else's hellspawn.
Survival of the fittest: if we start accounting for every moron in the world and protecting THEM, instead of encouraging people to be careful, thoughtful and considerate of others, we only serve to weaken the species and condone stupidity.
Considerate of others???? You don't seem to practice what you are preaching. The solution I proposed would cost next to nothing. It is not condoning stupidity; it is protecting the innocent. I don't propose this for the benefit of the parent. This is to save the life of a child who can't save himself.
Go back to watching Sean Hannity. Your humanity and compassion are overwhelming me.
Yeah! Let's cut our automobile costs by getting the manufacturers to make all those other "safety" features optional: Rear-view mirrors, safety bumpers, collapsing steering columns, airbags, seatbelts, turn signals, brake lights... If people would just pay attention to their driving, all you'd really need is an accelerator, a horn, and a steering wheel. All the other "fools" will just get what they deserve!
I believe that it's stated a little over 100 children die from being left in a hot car every year, yet how many die from not being in a car seat? Over 700.
So, I'd suggest if parents want to pay more for a device for their car that would include a built in car seat and a device that if they were irresponsible enough to think they could possibly forget their child in a car that they special order said device rather than have it increase the standard price of a car. Let it be an option like the more expensive wheels or the stero system with the disc changer. That way those of us who either don't have young children or are intelligent enough to never leave a child in a hot car? Don't have to pay for it.
The idea of the solar thing with the fan was a nice one though, since getting into a hot car would be nice to avoid. That should be an option as well.
That should make everyone happy, since options are not regulations and we still have a choice.
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