A mother leaves her children in a hot car while in a trial for the same reason

What would you call a mother who leaves her children in a hot car, while being in court for the same case? This sounds more than strange to me. Seriously. Didn’t she know that her kids were inside? Or, maybe, she wasn’t aware of the potential consequences? What would she do if her kids died of a heatstroke? Luckily, by-passers alerted the police who came to the rescue (they could also call a locksmith service in Virginia, but that would probably cost money).

These are only a few questions that came to my mind, as soon as I read the story. In my opinion, this woman can hardly be called a mother and the sentence of the court is really a right one, although personally I would sentence her to years of imprisonment for child abuse and inadequate treatment! Well, this may sound too harsh, but I just cannot have any other opinion, as I’m really shocked by such a horrible situation!

Life is unpredictable and everything can happen – you may take prescription drugs that slow down your actions and attention, you may lose a close person and feel depressed, you may be fired from the job you loved… BUT! None of these situations can be an excuse for leaving your child locked in a vehicle, thus subjecting him/her to death!

A heatstroke is nowadays one of the most widespread causes of death in kids of all ages. When a body is subjected to high temperatures, without any access to water and fresh air, the cells, as well as internal body organs, get damaged. If not prevented on time, the result can be lethal.

A well-known fact is that kids’ thermoregulatory mechanisms are less efficient as compared to those of adults. As a result, they may face a heatstroke several times faster than adults. This is one of the reasons of why many children die when left inside vehicles for a long time. 

According to recent estimations, over 40 children die in hot vehicles each year in the US only (not to mention other countries!), being trapped inside and having no chances to get outside! Just imagine their feelings and behavior! This is really a crime that has to be prosecuted, especially if this happens again and again! 

Unfortunately, even the most responsible parents may sometimes leave their kids peacefully sleeping at the backseat of their car “just for a second”, or a young baby sitter may not realize the consequences of this behavior, which can, meanwhile, result in a serious child’s injury or even death. But when this happens for the second time, this is definitely neither an accident nor a mistake – this is irresponsibility and child abuse that should not be left unnoticed!

So, if you are a parent, when you get out of your vehicle next time - check twice whether there are kids at the back seat. This is obligatory, irrespective of the fact if you are a parent, a babysitter or a caregiver. Keep in mind that a car is not a play area or a place to rest and sleep – this may become a real tragedy under certain circumstances!