# Good Samaritan saves baby - in spite of security guard's warning. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 23, 2014, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-samaritan-saves-baby-in-spite-of-security-guards-warning/699291 "2014-09-23T01:42:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-samaritan-saves-baby-in-spite-of-security-guards-warning/699291/1 "2014-09-23T01:42:11Z")
Rent A Cops just got in the way while this lady saved the baby. I am puzzled why she did it the hard way? Breaking the door glass would have been so much simpler and she wouldn’t have cut her arms reaching for the door lock. Hard to imagine bystanders just standing there with a baby in trouble. What was the matter with them? > **[Hot car tragedy avoided: Texas woman rescues suffering baby from hot car by...](https://www.nydailynews.com/2014/09/22/hot-car-tragedy-avoided-texas-woman-rescues-suffering-baby-from-hot-car-by-smashing-strangers-windshield/)** > > A Texas woman used a tire iron to smash the windshield of a locked hot car to rescue a baby stuck inside, despite warnings from security guards to sit tight and wait for police or the car’s o… > [@](#): > > A Texas woman used a tire iron to smash the windshield of a locked hot car to rescue a baby stuck inside, despite warnings from security guards to sit tight and wait for police or the car’s owner. > > Angela Radtke said she had no qualms about shattering the blue Chrysler’s windshield in the parking of an H-E-B supermarket as the baby sat trapped inside its oven-like interior in the late-summer heat. > > “I felt like some people were kind of scared, they didn’t want to be liable because the security guard was yelling that I could possibly be arrested for breaking the window,” Radtke told San Antonio’s KENS-5 television. > > She said she told the bystanders, “I don’t care if I get arrested, I’m going to save this baby,” she said. > > The Good Samaritan’s arms were cut up when she reached through the shattered glass to unlock the baby, she said. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-samaritan-saves-baby-in-spite-of-security-guards-warning/699291/2 "2014-09-23T05:52:15Z")
It seems kind of stupid to smash the windshield, you’d have to reach really far to get a door handle. A back seat window or the window opposite the baby makes the most sense. Maybe they weren’t telling her not to break the window but to not break that particular window. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-samaritan-saves-baby-in-spite-of-security-guards-warning/699291/3 "2014-09-23T06:24:14Z")
Breaking the windshield might be better! I know someone who had this happen to his car, only they broke a side window. Then the insurance company refused to pay for it, saying that the state law requiring no-deduction coverage for auto glass only applied to the windshields, not the side windows. (And the side windows were surprisingly expensive, not that much cheaper than a windshield. Had to disassemble the door, with the power locks & windows, and the installation work was much longer than doing a windshield.) ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-samaritan-saves-baby-in-spite-of-security-guards-warning/699291/4 "2014-09-23T06:48:22Z")
Who the fuck leaves a baby in a locked car whole they go in a grocery store?! That is insane, and I assume they couldn’t be located via PA system(to the “parent” who owns the blue Chrysler with license plate #XXXXXX please go unlock the car and save your baby) or shouting in store for whoever left a baby in their car to come save it? What a parent. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-samaritan-saves-baby-in-spite-of-security-guards-warning/699291/5 "2014-09-23T07:06:17Z")
If the baby was in the back seat she may have chosen to break the windshield because it was farthest from the baby. That is, she may have been afraid of hurting the baby with broken glass. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-samaritan-saves-baby-in-spite-of-security-guards-warning/699291/6 "2014-09-23T07:21:12Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Breaking the windshield might be better! > > I know someone who had this happen to his car, only they broke a side window. Then the insurance company refused to pay for it, saying that the state law requiring no-deduction coverage for auto glass only applied to the windshields, not the side windows. (And the side windows were surprisingly expensive, not that much cheaper than a windshield. Had to disassemble the door, with the power locks & windows, and the installation work was much longer than doing a windshield.) If someone left their baby in a hot car would you really care about saving them some money? ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-samaritan-saves-baby-in-spite-of-security-guards-warning/699291/7 "2014-09-23T09:16:51Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > If the baby was in the back seat she may have chosen to break the windshield because it was farthest from the baby. That is, she may have been afraid of hurting the baby with broken glass. This was my immediate thought. In fact, seems obvious to me. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-samaritan-saves-baby-in-spite-of-security-guards-warning/699291/8 "2014-09-23T10:23:47Z")
Safety glass is designed not to cut people when it shatters. The good Samaritan may not have known that. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-samaritan-saves-baby-in-spite-of-security-guards-warning/699291/9 "2014-09-23T10:41:07Z")
> [@grude](#): > > Who the fuck leaves a baby in a locked car whole they go in a grocery store?! Idiots, that’s who. You’d think by now people would be aware of how quickly temperatures can rise inside a car on even an ordinarily warm day, but apparently not yet. And this one doesn’t seem to be one of those awful forgetfulness cases - pretty hard for both him and the twelve-year-old to forget at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-samaritan-saves-baby-in-spite-of-security-guards-warning/699291/10 "2014-09-23T10:53:18Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > Idiots, that’s who. You’d think by now people would be aware of how quickly temperatures can rise inside a car on even an ordinarily warm day, but apparently not yet. And this one doesn’t seem to be one of those awful forgetfulness cases - pretty hard for both him and the twelve-year-old to forget at the same time. And for 40 minutes! In Texas, this has to be more than simple idiocy. I assume the kid was in a car seat, those usually lift right out and provide a handle so they could have put the baby in a cart, hell in the USA I’ve seen some groceries have special carts with baby holder chairs. And the 12 year old couldn’t have taken care of the baby while the father shopped. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-samaritan-saves-baby-in-spite-of-security-guards-warning/699291/11 "2014-09-23T10:57:02Z")
> [@grude](#): > > And the 12 year old couldn’t have taken care of the baby while the father shopped. Or even, taken a list and gone shopping. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-samaritan-saves-baby-in-spite-of-security-guards-warning/699291/12 "2014-09-23T14:11:50Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Safety glass is designed not to cut people when it shatters. The good Samaritan may not have known that. Then this part of the story seems strange. > [@](#): > > The Good Samaritan’s arms were cut up when she reached through the shattered glass to unlock the baby, she said. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-samaritan-saves-baby-in-spite-of-security-guards-warning/699291/13 "2014-09-23T14:14:56Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > This was my immediate thought. In fact, seems obvious to me. I dunno, the baby was probably in the back seat and breaking a side front window seems like it would be less dangerous - think of the angle of the force: breaking the windshield = glass fragments mostly flying backward; breaking a side window = glass fragments mostly flying sideways. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-samaritan-saves-baby-in-spite-of-security-guards-warning/699291/14 "2014-09-23T14:19:44Z")
> [@grude](#): > > Who the fuck leaves a baby in a locked car whole …? I always cut the baby into pieces first. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-samaritan-saves-baby-in-spite-of-security-guards-warning/699291/15 "2014-09-23T14:38:08Z")
Smashing the windshield would also piss off the car owner more, since it would have to be replaced. That’d be at least part of my motivation. Hell, I might have smashed the windshield, realized “oh, darn, can’t reach the door lock from here without cutting myself,” and then smashed a side window. Maybe a couple more windows, to get that cross-ventilation going while I work on getting the baby out. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-samaritan-saves-baby-in-spite-of-security-guards-warning/699291/16 "2014-09-23T15:07:23Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Smashing the windshield would also piss off the car owner more, since it would have to be replaced. That’d be at least part of my motivation. Hell, I might have smashed the windshield, realized “oh, darn, can’t reach the door lock from here without cutting myself,” and then smashed a side window. Maybe a couple more windows, to get that cross-ventilation going while I work on getting the baby out. +1 ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-samaritan-saves-baby-in-spite-of-security-guards-warning/699291/17 "2014-09-23T15:07:24Z")
I’m an EMT who’s also certified in Vehicle Rescue. I’ve broken lots of car glass, both in training & on the scene of rescues. Good on her in theory, not great in execution. The windshield is different than the rest of the windows in a car. Being on the front of the car, windshields are subject to much greater forces (hence their name) & are made differently than other car glass. They are a laminate of multiple layers which are very hard to break, & when they do, contain sharp edges that will cut you. They make specialized windshield saws that cost a few hundred dollars. Other glass is safety glass which can be broken by just pushing hard enough with a pointed object, like a [window punch](https://www.google.com/search?q=window+punch&rlz=1C1SAVI_enUS598US598&es_sm=122&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=S4ohVOn3F4uTyAT10oGQCQ&ved=0CFkQsAQ&biw=1600&bih=756) or a [rescue hammer](http://www.amazon.com/DragonPad-Seatbelt-Cutter-Window-Breaker/dp/B004TRKBOK/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1411484315&sr=1-1&keywords=rescue+hammer) (2 for $6 on Amazon). Once the glass is shattered, pushing on it will cause the little pieces to fall harmlessly to the floor/ground. If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, go for side glass furthest from the ‘victim’ as it’s both easier & safer to break. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-samaritan-saves-baby-in-spite-of-security-guards-warning/699291/18 "2014-09-23T15:10:16Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > Then this part of the story seems strange. Not really. She reached through the window and sliced her arm on the jagged edges. Safety glass often breaks in car wrecks and showers the people inside the car. Usually with little or no cutting. They can cut themselves on a piece if they slide over it getting out of the car. It takes some kind of friction contact (rubbing against it) to cut. Compare that too regular glass which would send knife like shards right at the people during a wreck. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-samaritan-saves-baby-in-spite-of-security-guards-warning/699291/19 "2014-09-23T15:20:42Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Not really. She reached through the window and sliced her arm on the jagged edges. Safety glass often breaks in car wrecks and showers the people inside the car. Usually with little or no cutting. They can cut themselves on a piece if they slide over it getting out of the car. It takes some kind of friction contact (rubbing against it) to cut. Compare that too regular glass which would send knife like shards right at the people during a wreck. According to the post above yours, windshield glass is different from side glass and can cut you. The difference appears to be that windshield glass takes a lot of force to break through because it is laminated - it usually just shatters “in place”, with the shattered bits sticking together. Side window glass, on the other hand, shatters into small, harmless cubes. > **[Tempered glass](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toughened_glass)** > > Tempered or toughened glass is a type of safety glass processed by controlled thermal or chemical treatments to increase its strength compared with normal glass. Tempering puts the outer surfaces into compression and the interior into tension. Such stresses cause the glass, when broken, to shatter into small granular chunks instead of splintering into large jagged shards as ordinary annealed glass does. These smaller, granular chunks are less likely to cause deep penetration when forced into the... So, if you smash a hole right through the laminated glass of the windshield (hard to do), you risk sharp edges - but not if you smash a side window (toughened glass). ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-samaritan-saves-baby-in-spite-of-security-guards-warning/699291/20 "2014-09-23T17:30:39Z")
I’m glad the baby is OK. I also suspect a lot of windows and windshields are going to get smashed for no reason because people are becoming hyper-vigilant about children left in cars. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-samaritan-saves-baby-in-spite-of-security-guards-warning/699291.md?page=2)