Fort Worth police arrested a man on Sunday, who was suspected of leaving five children inside of his car, which was heated to 99 degrees. The children were 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 years old.
Some children were found sleeping or passed out when removed from the car. The children were quickly put into air-conditioned police cars. It was not disclosed how long the children were left in the vehicle.
Police found the man allegedly responsible at a home close to the car. He was arrested and charged with five counts of abandonment/endangerment to a child.
Texas public health officials explained just how fatal this scenario could be, saying that a child’s vital organs cannot function at that level of temperature.
MedStar has measured a rise in incidents where children are left in hot cars in Texas. Experts say parents are distracted and should place personal items such as wallets, phones, business IDs, or wallets in the backseat. Make it a habit to check the entire vehicle before locking the door.
According to the United State Department of Transportation, 23 children died due to vehicular heatstroke in 2021. A child’s body temperature rises three to five times quicker than an adult’s, and they could die within minutes if left in a hot car.
If you ever notice a child alone in a vehicle, don’t hesitate to call 911 immediately—every second counts in a situation like this. A child should be removed from a hot vehicle as fast as possible.
For additional news coverage on this story, please consider the following sources:
https://www.cbsnews.com/dfw/news/5-kids-hot-car-dad-arrested/
https://www.yahoo.com/video/father-arrested-leaving-5-kids-225200253.html