Here's an idea to keep parents from leaving their kids in the car
By cynddvs
@cynddvs (2948)
United States
September 6, 2007 8:55pm CST
With all of the stories about kids dying from being left in the car I've started thinking, how could we keep this from happening. I mean we can sit here and bash these parents and say how awful they are but what is that really solving. How about instead of spending our time talking bad about these parents we start thinking of ways to prevent this sort of thing from happening. So an idea came to me.
What if they made it mandatory to start putting some sort of weight sensor in car seats that sets off an alarm when a child is left in the car seat? Maybe this would prevent some of these kids from dying in a hot car. Yes it is ultimately the parents duty to make sure they have their kids with them when they get out of the car. But let's face it. With all of these stories lately obviously a lot of parents are forgetting for whatever reason. So why not try to help busy parents instead of bashing them?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@magnet (2087)
• United States
7 Sep 07
What's strange is that it only seems to happen in the Summer but not in the winter. I don't ever hear about parents forgetting about their children in the winter time in the car.Not a bad idea about the weight sensor except I would not want to be made to purchase a weight sensor for my car seats. I have a lot on my mind but I always look in the rear view mirror even when my children are not in the car I have a habit of looking back there for them when I get out.
1 person likes this
@cynddvs (2948)
• United States
7 Sep 07
The only reason I think it should be made mandatory is to help determine whether these accidents are intentional or not. I'm with you. I ALWAYS check to make sure I have my daughter, even when she's not with me. But I know in some of these cases it has been thought to be intentional. At least the unintentional accidents wouldn't happen and the intentional accidents would be brought out.
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
8 Sep 07
Now, all you have to do is figure out how to make it work and you could have a great invention. It would probably be a hit.
1 person likes this
@carolscash (9492)
• United States
7 Sep 07
I agree that something needs to be done. Although, I am still confused as to how you forget that you have your kid with you. I guess we really are too busy if we can't remember such things.
The weight sensors are a good idea and I think they will be a retail item before long as many people would buy them.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
7 Sep 07
I don't have a problem with bashing these morons, cynddvs, because I feel that any parent stupid enough to forget their kid is in the car doesn't deserve to have one in the first place. I raised 4 of them, and never once forgot that I had them along with me when I went out. I think what we are seeing is a lack of responsibility on the part of these people-and I have to ask myself honestly if they even want their kid. No parent should have to be reminded of such a thing.
1 person likes this
@wachit14 (3595)
• United States
7 Sep 07
It's very disturbing to hear about children being left in hot cars for hours at a time. It makes me wonder what is going on in a parent's mind to forget a child for so many hours. Although it is a good idea to have some sort of alarm system in newer cars, how many people will buy those cars in time to save a child's life?
I think the underpinnings of the whole thing is lack of quality childcare that is affordable for parents. I think that is far more prudent and necessary in our society, but unfortunately, although the experts talk a good game, they still can't figure out how to make this happen.
