Hot vehicles pose serious risks not only to infants but to older children as well. Every summer, we are bombarded with distressing reports about children left in sweltering cars. While many resources outline strategies to prevent these awful situations for busy moms and dads, there’s one aspect that often gets overlooked: what about kids who can get into a car but can’t get out?
Recently, Sarah Jenkins, a photographer, blogger, and mother, shared a chilling experience on her blog, Half Heard in the Stillness. She recounted a moment when her four-year-old son found himself trapped in their car, panicking because he couldn’t open the doors.
The seemingly innocent day began like any other: “We had just returned from the pool. I made sure he was unbuckled from his car seat, and I left the car door open while I grabbed the wet towels and my essentials, all while juggling my growing baby bump.”
While Sarah’s older children entered the house, her son lingered behind, captivated by the little things in their driveway. Ten minutes later, a realization struck her: she hadn’t heard him at all.
Every parent knows that familiar wave of anxiety when they can’t find their child, even for a moment. As Sarah and her family began searching the house, she thought he might just be quietly using the bathroom or absorbed in his iPad. Instead, he was in the car, locked inside, drenched in sweat and tears, pressing his face against the window.
In the chaos, Sarah mistakenly assumed her son had followed his siblings inside. Unbeknownst to her, he had been searching for a lost shoe and was unable to open the door when his sibling inadvertently closed it behind her. “He panicked and cried, but no one could hear him,” she explained.
“I’m sure many of you think you would never forget your child in a hot car. But what if they accidentally get stuck?” Sarah questioned, urging parents to recognize the importance of teaching their kids how to escape a vehicle in an emergency, just like we do with fire drills.
Preschoolers, while generally more independent than infants, can still find themselves in perilous situations in the blink of an eye. They love to hide and explore, often keeping us on our toes. It’s crucial to instruct them on how to open car doors, just as we teach them to wash their hands or tie their shoes.
Sarah plans to work with her son on mastering how to open the car door from the inside, unbuckle his seatbelt, and even how to honk the horn for help if needed. These practices can make a significant difference in an emergency. “This isn’t something I’ve ever considered,” she admitted. “Take a little time today to ensure your children know how to operate the car doors from the inside and how to alert someone if they find themselves alone in a vehicle. It could save their life.”
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Summary
As parents, it’s crucial to prepare our children for unexpected circumstances, including how to escape a hot car. This blog emphasizes the importance of teaching kids practical skills to ensure their safety, urging families to take proactive measures in case of emergencies.