LETTER: How Are We 'Forgetting' Children In Hot Cars?

EDITOR'S NOTE: Letters to the editor are not written by Patch editors. The letter written below was submitted by a Patch reader. Letters are a platform for dialogue about issues important to readers. To submit a letter to the editor, please email justin.heinze@patch.com.

Dear Editor,

It is the unspoken fear of many parents, accidentally leaving a young child unattended in a hot vehicle. How can it be possible that our culture has “developed” to the point that our brains are so overloaded with incoming stimuli and unnecessary thoughts, details and worries that we can FORGET about our children, even for a few minutes, and place them in a life-threatening situation?

That, unfortunately, is the sad reality as infants and children are dying in record numbers this summer as the result of being left in sweltering vehicles. Tragically, more children have died as of July 31st in the United States due to heatstroke suffered in hot cars than at this point in any other year since record keeping began.

The accidental death of any child touches all of us deeply, and for the parent or parents involved in this type of tragedy, it is no doubt life-changing, their lives forever scarred by crippling guilt and sadness.

The greatest nation on earth has a serious problem and it’s not getting any better. Drivers often seem to be thinking about everything BUT their driving. Is it cell phones, other electronic devices, work, money or relationships that are driving us to distraction? Whatever the reasons, we need to slow down and remember what is important, everyone’s safety and wellbeing.

Yes, life gets busy. But it is time we wake up, pull our heads out of our devices, and, as many a wise man and woman have advised, “Live in the moment.” Not only will we be better, safer drivers, the lives of our children and those around us may very well depend on it.

- Jana L. Tidwell

AAA Mid-Atlantic

Patch file photo