# 36 kids die in hot cars this year **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 26, 2003, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/36-kids-die-in-hot-cars-this-year/197791 "2003-08-26T17:53:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/36-kids-die-in-hot-cars-this-year/197791/1 "2003-08-26T17:53:00Z")
Since (tragically) this subject comes up frequently in the Pit, I thought the Pitizens might be interested in this [article](http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/08/26/child.heat.deaths.ap/index.html) about kids dying in hot cars. I know linking to the article is more of an MPSIMS thing, but it’s definitely a subject fit for the Pit. I feel sick every time I think about the negligence and stupidity that leads to these deaths, and even sicker when I think about the poor parents who turned their kids over to a daycare provider without knowing that it would be the last time they ever saw them. Not the strongest of rants, but this stuff makes me more sad than angry. Maybe someone else can do better. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/36-kids-die-in-hot-cars-this-year/197791/2 "2003-08-26T18:16:55Z")
I’m surprised it’s _only_ 36. Fucking idiots. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/36-kids-die-in-hot-cars-this-year/197791/3 "2003-08-26T18:24:12Z")
This baffles me: > [@](#): > > Fennell suggested placing reminders in the car, such as a bag of diapers in the front seat or a purse or briefcase in the back with the child. > > “Put something that you have to have today in the back seat, where it’s going to force to you check the back seat. Eventually, it becomes a habit,” she said. Yeah, if you can’t remember something as insignificant as your own child, put something important back there: like your lunch! I’m of the disturbing mindset that quite a few of these are not “accidents.” ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/36-kids-die-in-hot-cars-this-year/197791/4 "2003-08-26T21:36:06Z")
I’ve done quite enough absent-minded dumbass things in my life to understand how this could happen. My thought is to propose a technical fix. How hard would it be to make an active or passive ventilation system standard (or optional) in cars so that they don’t heat up to a zillion degrees? It seems as though it would be fairly simply to engineer an air exchange system powered by solar cells that would pump enough air through a car so that it doesn’t get much hotter than the outside air temperature. And you don’t have to have a toddler in the back seat to appreciate this – it’s no fun getting into a 120 degree car. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/36-kids-die-in-hot-cars-this-year/197791/5 "2003-08-26T21:52:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Finagle \* > \*\*I’ve done quite enough absent-minded dumbass things in my life to understand how this could happen. My thought is to propose a technical fix. How hard would it be to make an active or passive ventilation system standard (or optional) in cars so that they don’t heat up to a zillion degrees? > > It seems as though it would be fairly simply to engineer an air exchange system powered by solar cells that would pump enough air through a car so that it doesn’t get much hotter than the outside air temperature. And you don’t have to have a toddler in the back seat to appreciate this – it’s no fun getting into a 120 degree car. \*\* There is no technology to prevent human stupidity. There never will be. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/36-kids-die-in-hot-cars-this-year/197791/6 "2003-08-26T21:59:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Finagle \* > \*\*I’ve done quite enough absent-minded dumbass things in my life to understand how this could happen. My thought is to propose a technical fix. How hard would it be to make an active or passive ventilation system standard (or optional) in cars so that they don’t heat up to a zillion degrees? > > It seems as though it would be fairly simply to engineer an air exchange system powered by solar cells that would pump enough air through a car so that it doesn’t get much hotter than the outside air temperature. And you don’t have to have a toddler in the back seat to appreciate this – it’s no fun getting into a 120 degree car. \*\* There is no technology to prevent human stupidity. There never will be. ---
**Author:** ![Elenfair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cc9497/32.png) [@Elenfair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elenfair)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/36-kids-die-in-hot-cars-this-year/197791/7 "2003-08-26T22:25:32Z")
You know, I never have forgotten my dogs in the car. Ever. I’ve had changes of plans and routes… and never EVER have forgotten my dogs. Never been so preoccupied that I’ve forgotten them in any vehicle. Hell, they never stay in a car unattended, rain or shine, hot or cold or mild… We’re talking about your CHILDREN here. I don’t understand how ANYONE could forget they’ve got their kid in the car, strapped in a carseat. I just… don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boo_Boo_Foo)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/36-kids-die-in-hot-cars-this-year/197791/8 "2003-08-26T22:31:48Z")
I’d agree with you there **World Eater**. As somebody wrote to myself about this subject in another thread recently… _Never leave your baby anywhere you wouldn’t leave a million dollars sitting in the open._ Once you indelibly etch that particular philosophy into your head, it kinda becomes pretty obvious as to what you should do I rather think. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/36-kids-die-in-hot-cars-this-year/197791/9 "2003-08-26T22:50:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Boo Boo Foo \* > \*\*I’d agree with you there **World Eater**. As somebody wrote to myself about this subject in another thread recently… > > _Never leave your baby anywhere you wouldn’t leave a million dollars sitting in the open._ > > Once you indelibly etch that particular philosophy into your head, it kinda becomes pretty obvious as to what you should do I rather think. \*\* That’s funny, I really took that quote to heart as well. Words to live by. ---
**Author:** ![Muldoon\_s\_Squishiness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Muldoon\_s\_Squishiness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muldoon_s_Squishiness)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/36-kids-die-in-hot-cars-this-year/197791/10 "2003-08-26T22:59:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Finagle \* > \*\*I’ve done quite enough absent-minded dumbass things in my life to understand how this could happen. My thought is to propose a technical fix. How hard would it be to make an active or passive ventilation system standard (or optional) in cars so that they don’t heat up to a zillion degrees? > > It seems as though it would be fairly simply to engineer an air exchange system powered by solar cells that would pump enough air through a car so that it doesn’t get much hotter than the outside air temperature. And you don’t have to have a toddler in the back seat to appreciate this – it’s no fun getting into a 120 degree car. \*\* If something like that does happen, it won’t be for 15-20 years and only after the car companies have been dragged kicking and screaming into doing it, just like they were dragged kicking and screaming into adding anti-lock brakes and air bags to passenger cars. Lee Iacocca is personally responsible for holding up the introduction of anti-lock brakes /air bags in domestic (US cars) for nearly 15 years. He was a vicious anti-saftey campaigner, which boggles the mind. Iacocca kept bleating about how adding airbags and anti-lock brakes would bankrupt the auto industry. Sure thing, Lee.:rolleyes: :wally ---
**Author:** ![Arcana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aca169/32.png) [@Arcana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcana)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/36-kids-die-in-hot-cars-this-year/197791/11 "2003-08-26T23:12:24Z")
People this stupid should be prevented by the government from ever bearing children again. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/36-kids-die-in-hot-cars-this-year/197791/12 "2003-08-27T00:46:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by World Eater \* > \*\*Fucking idiots. \*\* Yep, that’s the cause in a nutshell. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/36-kids-die-in-hot-cars-this-year/197791/13 "2003-08-27T01:12:21Z")
Every summer in Texas - I think we’re getting better at prosecuting in these cases, though. Maybe. How in hell could you do it?? It’s bad enough that we get the stories (3 that I can recall this year) of day-care workers forgetting about a child - but can you imagine forgetting your OWN child was in the car and walking off? Here’s the latest tragedy in my neck of the woods: > **[Home | Record Searchlight](https://www.redding.com/)** > > News, sports, business, lifestyle and more for Redding, Shasta County and the North State from the Redding Record Searchlight. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/36-kids-die-in-hot-cars-this-year/197791/14 "2003-08-27T01:16:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by World Eater \* > \*\*There is no technology to prevent human stupidity. > > There never will be. \*\* First of all, technology can certainly reduce the consequences of human stupidity, witness the airbag and the seat belt. Second, I believe it’s unjust and even cruel to put down all of these cases as stupidity. Theories of human cognition posit that many human responses are scriptal in nature – that is, we go through our daily routine following what is essentially a built-in program that we build up over a period of repeating the same mundane tasks over and over. It’s a very useful mechanism in that it frees the mind from having resolve known problems every day. The flaw is that it doesn’t handle breaks in the routine very well. Get distracted, even a bit, and the mind goes back on autopilot. My point is that this is a natural mechanism of the human mind that occasionally has tragic consequences. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/36-kids-die-in-hot-cars-this-year/197791/15 "2003-08-27T01:21:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by World Eater \* > \*\*There is no technology to prevent human stupidity. > > There never will be. \*\* First of all, technology can certainly reduce the consequences of human stupidity, witness the airbag and the seat belt. Second, I believe it’s unjust and even cruel to put down all of these cases as stupidity. Theories of human cognition posit that many human responses are scriptal in nature – that is, we go through our daily routine following what is essentially a built-in program that we build up over a period of repeating the same mundane tasks over and over. It’s a very useful mechanism in that it frees the mind from having resolve known problems every day. The flaw is that it doesn’t handle breaks in the routine very well. Get distracted, even a bit, and the mind goes back on autopilot. My point is that this is a natural mechanism of the human mind that occasionally has tragic consequences. ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheValley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@LilyoftheValley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheValley)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/36-kids-die-in-hot-cars-this-year/197791/16 "2003-08-27T03:58:17Z")
What gets me about **SpoilerVirgin** ’s link is the following quote: > [@](#): > > What many people do not realize is just how quickly cars and trucks can become stifling death traps. What the hell? What _rock_ have they been living under? ---
**Author:** ![Beagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Beagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beagle)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/36-kids-die-in-hot-cars-this-year/197791/17 "2003-08-27T12:34:51Z")
Every time someone does this in Florida, I keep in mind that I’ve never left any perishible groceries in my car before. That explains why we are unable to become parents, we might have a fucking clue. Bitter, hostile, don’t mess with me on this one. Just nod knowingly. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/36-kids-die-in-hot-cars-this-year/197791/18 "2003-08-27T13:40:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LilyoftheValley \* > \*\*What gets me about **SpoilerVirgin** ’s link is the following quote: > > > [@](#): > > > > What many people do not realize is just how quickly cars and trucks can become stifling death traps. > > What the hell? What _rock_ have they been living under? \*\* I don’t know but they seem to be related to the people who need every single warning spelled out for them. We went grocery shopping Monday and for the first time I noticed a big sign at the store’s entrance. The sign warned against leaving pets and children unattended in parked cars. ---
**Author:** ![Skeptico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19b73/32.png) [@Skeptico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skeptico)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/36-kids-die-in-hot-cars-this-year/197791/19 "2003-08-27T21:34:21Z")
> [@](#): > > There is no technology to prevent human stupidity. > > There never will be. “Everytime you think you’ve created an idiot-proof technology, they make a better idiot.” -unknown ---
**Author:** ![Arcana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aca169/32.png) [@Arcana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcana)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/36-kids-die-in-hot-cars-this-year/197791/20 "2003-08-27T21:39:01Z")
People this stupid shouldn’t be punished. But they should be sterilized. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/36-kids-die-in-hot-cars-this-year/197791.md?page=2)