TIME and again, we hear of cases of young children being left in the car, usually with tragic results. It happened again last week. A teacher forgot to drop her toddler off at the caretaker’s place. A few hours later, the child was found dead in the mother’s car, which had been parked for hours under the hot sun.
Scientists have labelled this situation as Forgotten Baby Syndrome. If you think it only happens in Malaysia, you’re wrong. For example, in the US, about 40 families have experienced FBS resulting in deaths.
How could this happen? Were those parents intoxicated, mentally ill, or just grossly negligent?
The answer to all these questions is no. On the contrary, the majority of families who had experienced this tragedy were loving and devoted to raising their children. Suffice to say, they were devastated by the outcome.
Before we start blaming the parents, let’s focus on ourselves and see how we can prevent these tragedies. According to an article in Parents magazine, too many children die in hot cars each year. Even if we think we would never be so careless, it might still be quite useful to follow these seven tips just to be 100 per cent sure.
Important check list:
1. Be extra alert if your routine changes. That’s when the risk of unintentionally leaving your child in the car increases.
2. Put something belonging to your child (for example, a toy) on the front seat. Even if you can’t see your child seated at the back, (especially if he’s in a rear-facing car seat), the toy is a reminder that he’s there.
3. Leave an item you’ll need at your next destination on the backseat, such as your cell phone, purse, or briefcase.
4. Place your child’s car seat in the middle of the backseat rather than behind the driver. That way, it’s easier to see him in your rear-view mirror.
5. Set up a system with your child-care provider. If you don’t plan to drop off your child that day, call her. If the child doesn’t arrive as expected, have the caregiver call you.
6. Discuss the topic of hot car deaths with every person who drives your child anywhere. This includes partners, grandparents, babysitters, and friends.
7. Always look before you lock. Get into the habit of checking the backseat every time you get out of the car.
Finally, if you see any child alone in a car, call the emergency line. We can never be too cautious when it comes to our children’s safety. Tragedy can still happen, especially during those few seconds of distracted moments. Constant reminders are very much needed on a regular basis.
As we get busier and are constantly on the move, the risk of Forgotten Baby Syndrome increases tremendously. Let’s take a moment to acknowledge that it can also happen to us. When we do, we’ll hopefully apply those life-saving tips in a more consistent and urgent manner.