Today, there have been three incidents where babies or children were left in hot vehicles while parents went shopping or attended to their own business. A child should never be left alone in a vehicle, especially during hot weather.
Incidents included the following from call details (reports have not yet been done):
• 311 Coburg Road (Albertson’s) at 11:34 a.m. – a baby was left inside the vehicle with the windows up. The baby appeared to be in distress and looked to be sweating. The mother came out distraught and reported having forgotten the child was inside the vehicle.
• 4550 W. 11th Avenue (Walmart) at 2 p.m.– employees broke the window of a vehicle because an infant was left along inside in the heat. The baby appeared to be sweaty and in distress. The mother was charged with child neglect.
• 1995 Amazon Parkway(First Place Family Shelter) at 2:36 p.m. – a female left small children unattended inside a vehicle for 15-20minutes. The children were reported to be screaming and very hot. They were treated by an employee. Police are responding.
Leaving a child or pet in a vehicle, even on a warm day with windows cracked, can be dangerous or downright deadly. When it is hot out, vehicles left in the shade can also quickly become death traps.
Humans or pets left in a hot car can sustain permanent brain damage and they can die.
Here is an example of how quickly a vehicle heats up: