A 3-month-old baby in Singapore got accidentally locked up inside a car yesterday, leading to much panic.
The incident happened on 22 March 2018, at around 11:50 am at the carpark near Holland Village Market and Food Centre.
Baby gets locked up in car
According to Lianhe Wanbao, parents of the baby had gone to test drive a new car, leaving their infant in the maid’s care.
Apparently, the maid put the baby in the back seat, and the car keys in a pouch on the front seat. She also left the front passenger door open.
Unfortunately, while folding the baby’s stroller, she accidentally hit the door which caused it to shut, and auto-lock the car.
Parents of the baby panicked when they got to know about the incident. The mummy was heard crying out loudly for help. Desperate, the father used a hammer to smash one of the windows, and rescued the baby.
An eye witness has been quoted as saying, “He wanted to break open the back door window. Thankfully, passers-by told him that he could hurt his baby and he broke the driver’s window instead.”
The infant had been left inside the locked up car for 20 minutes.
The SCDF, which arrived 10 minutes later, confirmed that the baby was safe, and uninjured.
Dangers if baby gets locked up in car
There are many dangers if baby gets locked up in car
It can happen to the best of us. Shutting the car door only to realise that you have left the key and the baby inside. Scary!
In the U.S. alone, about 37 children die in hot cars each year. Just last week (14 March), a 2-year-old in Malaysia died of heatstroke after her mum accidentally left her in a parked car for four hours.
This is why it can get dangerous if a baby gets locked up in car:
- A child’s body heats up to 4 times faster than an adult’s.
- Cars heat up quickly! In just 10 minutes, the temperature inside a vehicle can rise by nearly 20ºF.
- Heat stroke or hyperthermia can happen when the body is not able to cool itself quickly enough. Heatstroke occurs when a person’s body temperature exceeds 104°F. At 107ºF, cells are damaged and internal organs begin to shut down. This can lead to devastating injury, permanent brain damage or death.
When to call the doctor or rush to the hospital after heat exposure:
- If the child can’t be woken up or is difficult to rouse.
- If the child acts or talks like they are dazed and confused.
- When the child suffers seizures.
- If there are signs of shock: very weak, gray, cool skin.
- If the child has a high fever of 105° F (40.5°C)
- Call the doctor if your child is under 12 weeks old and acting unusual or has fever after prolonged heat exposure.
- Vomiting everything, even water, warrants bringing your child to the doctor or emergency room immediately.
- If you suspect dehydration, or if your child hasn’t urinated in 8 hours, has dark urine, dry mouth and no tears, call your doctor immediately.
How you can prevent hot car tragedies
- Never leave your child alone in a car, not even for a minute.
- Always look before you lock. Check the back seats of your vehicle before your lock it and walk away. Create reminders to check the back seat, by putting something important next to your child, such as a briefcase, purse or cell phone.
- Keep your car locked when you are not in it so kids don’t gain access. Also make sure that the kids don’t have access to the car keys. Teach your children that cars are not safe places to play.
- If someone else is driving your child, always check to make sure your child has arrived safely.
- If you see a child alone in a locked up car, do not wait for too long for the driver to return. Call 999 and alert the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) immediately.
Also READ: Toddlers die after their mother leaves them in hot car as punishment
(Source: Lianhe Wanbao)