Never leave kids in the car

Yesterday, as i was reading the papers, I came across with a news clipping which sort of got me feeling dissapointed and angry. The news clipping, "Boy locked in car for two hours"(The Borneo Post (27 Oct) tells of how a 50 year old man left a 4 year old boy locked in his car.

The car was found parked at the Esso station near Karamunsing under the hot, hot, hot sun! The man only left one of the windows open, about 2 inches only!! There was a picture of a boy, sweating terribly and looked as if he was about to pass out. Workers from the petrol station noticed the boy in the car and tried in vain to get him out but failed. So, they called the police. Before the police could arrive, the 50 year old man returned to his car. The workers advised the man to never leave the child in the car again, and he replied saying that he was only going off for a while. 2 hours is considered "a while"?? Even if you are going off to do something for a minute, you shouldn't leave your child in the car unattended. Many of us would think that leaving your child in your car for a couple of minutes would be okay, and that nothing would happen to them. Sometimes I see mothers leaving their child in the car, crying. I just don't understand why some parents would leave their child in the car. What if they suffocate, or a thief were to pass by that day and decided to steal your car?

Kids are curious and may not know the dangers associated with a vehicle. Switches and buttons may look fun to them. Did you know that the playing with the cigarette lighter can set the car on fire? What if they decide to pull the handbrake?

The Government should make it a violation to leave a child below 10 (or any relevent age) in a car unattended. There must be some truth involving disaster of leaving children below 10 in the house/car. It is time that we enforce this type of law in our country. Not to wait untill something happens. Yes, I agree it is sometimes too much of a hassle to a carry toddler or children around. I know this because my younger brother is not the most quiet one. He runs around and talking as if he is the only one in the building. But kids are like that! It's in their nature. No matter how naughty he is, my parents would NEVER leave him in the car alone. There had been incidence of children suffocated or dehydrated due to being left in the car for too long.

Try locking yourself in the car for 10 minutes in the hot sun and you will appreciate how it feels.

**Joanna**