The Focus

Countless stories about children who have died at the parent's hands from being in a hurry or not thinking in a change in the routine.  

A routine situation would be waiting for the kids to get in the car and going in reverse before either making sure that all kids are inside the vehicle and accounted for or making sure that the child is visible going through the building door or standing on the sidewalk away from the vehicle.

The non-routine comes from a story a few years back where the father had to take the child to the daycare when usually the mother did.  It was a hot day.  People at the job told him that police were at his car.  He forgot to drop the baby off.  The baby died.¹

Just read this story about a woman who thought her child was in the SUV and put the SUV in reverse and her child didn't make it.  But, the child had survived four heart operations.² 

Now, there's this push for carmakers to have better vehicle standards for going in reverse.  This may help but guess what?  PEOPLE drive cars.  

There's not enough carefulness in the world.  If a person is OCD about going in reverse and wants to look to be sure a thousand times, that's all right.  That'll save their child's life or the life of someone else’s child.

A simple thing to do but not easy to do is to tone down the distractions like the radio or worrying about the job when the child is in the car - especially if it's a new routine.  Would it hurt to make a habit to check all seats (underneath the seats too if a van or bus) before getting out each and every time and walking away?

(shrugging shoulders)  Just saying.

 

N





¹ Similar story

² Associated Story