I saw a parent leave a kid in a car today

[adrian]

While doing my job, I observed a mom talking to someone in her car. I heard the Mom say that she'll be away for a few minutes and I was worried that this will be another child death. Then she closed the door and walked away, then turned back and turned on the alarm for the car. When the parent was a few yards away, I approached the car and saw that a child no older than 3 was in the car, crawling around, but the child didn't see me. Luckily, when I managed to get someone from the store, the car was gone.

Cars should come with a way to detect a human (or animal) in the cars and be able to do something (page the parent, roll down the windows, turn on the AC, just something). Luckily I didn't have to report a death.

[lavagal]

Re: I saw a parent leave a kid in a car today

While doing my job, I observed a mom talking to someone in her car. I heard the Mom say that she'll be away for a few minutes and I was worried that this will be another child death. Then she closed the door and walked away, then turned back and turned on the alarm for the car. When the parent was a few yards away, I approached the car and saw that a child no older than 3 was in the car, crawling around, but the child didn't see me. Luckily, when I managed to get someone from the store, the car was gone.

Cars should come with a way to detect a human (or animal) in the cars and be able to do something (page the parent, roll down the windows, turn on the AC, just something). Luckily I didn't have to report a death.

Volvo commercials are touting its sensor abilities to sound off when it is approaching an object in the road (or person or the bumper ahead), and the remotes can detect if someone is in your vehicle. This would be something to add to the pedestrian safety thread.

[adrian]

Re: I saw a parent leave a kid in a car today

Volvo commercials are touting its sensor abilities to sound off when it is approaching an object in the road (or person or the bumper ahead), and the remotes can detect if someone is in your vehicle.

I thought I read about that in a magazine a few years ago. BTW, the car was a volvo, but it was I believe a late model s40 (interesting enough, it shares the same platform as my Mazda3)

[SusieMisajon]

Re: I saw a parent leave a kid in a car today

Next time, challenge the mom.

[1stwahine]

Re: I saw a parent leave a kid in a car today

Adrian, you always carry your camera phone. This was a time for you to take pictures. Take down the vehicles license plate, the information and call HPD. I don't care if the mother came back within a few minutes. The point is ~ she left her child unattended!

It pisses me OFF when parents do idiotic things like this. We continue to hear of innocent childern getting hurt and dying needlessly due to a 'mistake' by some adult who took things for granted.

It's not being nosy. It's saving a child's life.

Remember that.

Auntie Lynn

[oggboy]

Re: I saw a parent leave a kid in a car today

I`m so glad you took notice of the situation and went to action. I totally agree with Aunty Lynn on this matter. Enough stupidity, too bad that idiot never get caught by HPD. This would be a great front page story.....
MOM, LEAVES CHILD UNATTENED IN CAR, RETURNS TO FIND HPD WAITING!!!

[adrian]

Re: I saw a parent leave a kid in a car today

Adrian, you always carry your camera phone. This was a time for you to take pictures. Take down the vehicles license plate, the information and call HPD. I don't care if the mother came back within a few minutes. The point is ~ she left her child unattended!

It pisses me OFF when parents do idiotic things like this. We continue to hear of innocent childern getting hurt and dying needlessly due to a 'mistake' by some adult who took things for granted.

It's not being nosy. It's saving a child's life.

Remember that.

Auntie Lynn

I posted this on another forum, and they said it was okay to call HPD to report this, even though it was only for a short time.

[achow]

Re: I saw a parent leave a kid in a car today

It really pisses me off when I see a parent leave a child especially under the age of 3 because I am a preschool teacher. Adrian, you should have took a picture of the license plate and reported to HPD!

[tutusue]

Re: I saw a parent leave a kid in a car today

Adrian, since this particular case resolved itself without incident...thank goodness...maybe you can take the time now to ask the store's manager what you should do if this happens in the future as Walmart may already have some procedure in place. If they don't have a procedure in place, they should. Was the person you mentioned in your first post the manager?

Do you carry with you during working hours a company walkie-talkie of some sort? Personally, I think I would've planted my feet firmly by the car and not moved in order to keep an eye on the child and either radio'd or phoned...or instructed a passer-by to notify...the manager for immediate assistance.

Regardless, it appears you did the right thing in the moment. Good for you.

[808shooter]

Re: I saw a parent leave a kid in a car today

or better yet:

1. break window
2. leave note "you're welcome, I saved your kid's life"

Seriously, this kind of idiocy needs to be shamed publically. A photo emailed to everyone in your addressbook "If you know this parent, please educate them on the dangers of leaving a child in a locked car in the sun". After all it works for Manoa elitists.

[tutusue]

Re: I saw a parent leave a kid in a car today

[...]Seriously, this kind of idiocy needs to be shamed publically.[...]

I agree! Maybe a loud, well enunciated page throughout the store..."Will the parent or guardian of the child who is approximately <x> years old, left alone and locked in the <color, make, model of car>, license plate #<x>, please haul a$$ to the customer service desk so a policeman can escort you back to your child and your car?".

[adrian]

Re: I saw a parent leave a kid in a car today

Adrian, since this particular case resolved itself without incident...thank goodness...maybe you can take the time now to ask the store's manager what you should do if this happens in the future as Walmart may already have some procedure in place. If they don't have a procedure in place, they should. Was the person you mentioned in your first post the manager?

Do you carry with you during working hours a company walkie-talkie of some sort? Personally, I think I would've planted my feet firmly by the car and not moved in order to keep an eye on the child and either radio'd or phoned...or instructed a passer-by to notify...the manager for immediate assistance.

Regardless, it appears you did the right thing in the moment. Good for you.

Yes, the first person I talked to was a member of management (I won't get into our hierarchy) but like I mentioned by the time we both went there (marked by the line of carts near the car) the car was gone (I should have boxed her in).

Since our parking lot is so big, I rather take the direct approach and call HPD rather spending precious time to find a member of management (or wait for my coworker to safely leave a line of carts or let him call the MoM).

BTW, we don't have radios - and not all of us has cell phones.