Friday, June 10, 2011

I'm so mad I am shaking

After I dropped my kids off at summer school, I stopped by Walgreens to score some more deals. I pulled in a parking spot and looked at the car next to mine. There was a baby sitting in the car, alone, with all the windows rolled up.

I didn't know what to do. Do I call 911 or try to get the baby out first? I started to look for my phone. We went to the water park yesterday and it was still in my swimming bag. I figured I needed to go into Walgreens and use their phone. As I was getting out of my van, I saw a woman come out of Walgreens and head my way. I started walking around the back and toward her car. I still wasn't sure what I was going to do.

Then I saw she was carrying a pack of cigarettes!!

I said, "I can't believe you left a baby in the car to buy a pack of cigarettes!"

She just looked at me.

I said, "Do you know how dangerous it is to leave a baby in a car?"

Her, "Yes, I do."

Me, "It is hotter in the car than it is out here."

Her, "But it's not hot now." (It was 82 degrees.)

Me, "If I had my phone, I would have called the cops."

Her, "Thanks!"

Then she drove away.

(By the way, the baby was still in an infant seat and forward facing. Idiot!)

I'm glad I said something because before I got out of the van I didn't know what I was going to say. Plus, I would have wanted to kick myself later if I didn't say something

After I finished in Walgreens, I realized my phone was in my van. The bag was still in the back. Darn!! I would have loved to call the cops on her and watched to see what they did.

I understand how much of an inconvenience and hassle it is to have to get the baby or seat out and lug it in and hook it back in. Too bad.

What if she would have had a heart attack, or fallen and hit her head, or a car hit her on her way out? That baby would have been left in a hot car and no one would have known he was in there.

The least she could have done was leave the windows open. The chances were greater that the baby would get sick from the heat than someone would have taken him. It still would not have been ok but at least the baby would have been in less danger. Of course, someone who thinks it is ok to leave a baby in a car isn't going to have the sense to do it in the least dangerous way.

1 comment:

  1. It's horrible isn't it! I see it all the time when I pick my kids up from pre school. Parent's leaving the baby in the car cause they're only gonna be a minute, but end up talking to the teachers for about 10 minutes. The other day I walked passed a car and the baby was about 12-15 months and screaming her lungs out, windows wound up and no mum in sight, as I went in the gates I saw her coming out. I didn't bother saying anything cause she was too busy talking on her phone to worry about any of her kids. I would have if she wasn't on the phone.

    Good on u for speaking up!

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