10-11-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) A tragic incident unfolded in Selangor, Malaysia, as a two-year-old child lost her life after being left unattended in a car for more than seven hours on Wednesday. This heart-wrenching incident comes just weeks after two other toddlers faced a similar fate in the country.
Local authorities reported that the mother, a woman in her 30s, dropped off two of her children at school before heading to a daycare center to leave her two-year-old daughter. However, while parked near the daycare center, she became engrossed in online business transactions and accidentally forgot to take her child out of the vehicle, according to a statement released by the police on Thursday.
Unaware of her mistake, the mother drove back home and only realized her grave oversight at around 3:35 pm on Wednesday. Distraught, she immediately contacted emergency services while the child’s father attempted to save their little one. Unfortunately, despite their efforts, the child was pronounced dead later at Sungai Buloh Hospital.
A post-mortem examination will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death, and ongoing police investigations aim to shed light on the circumstances surrounding this devastating incident.
Tragically, this is not an isolated case. Just last month, a 16-month-old girl in Terengganu met a similar fate when her father inadvertently left her in his car parked at a university car park for several hours. Reports indicate that he had forgotten to drop her off at the daycare center within the university where he was employed.
In another incident in October, an eight-month-old girl in Kuala Lumpur lost her life after being left inside a car parked at a hospital car park for an astonishing 10 hours. The child’s mother, a doctor, had forgotten to drop her off at the nursery before reporting to work.
These distressing events have sparked concerns among various groups, prompting calls for collective action to prevent what has been dubbed the “forgotten baby syndrome.”
Leaders from organizations such as the Malaysian Association of Social Workers, Childline Foundation, and Crib (Child Rights Innovation and Betterment) Foundation issued a joint statement on October 26, urging parents and guardians to exercise caution and check their vehicles before leaving them unattended.
The statement emphasized that this issue extends beyond Malaysia and is a global concern. In the United States alone, more than 1,000 children have tragically lost their lives in “hot vehicles” since 1990, with an additional 7,000 children surviving but suffering varying degrees of injuries. The group highlighted the alarming fact that a child left in a closed vehicle under the scorching sun can perish within just 20 to 30 minutes.
The collective statement aimed to avoid assigning blame, as it acknowledged that this kind of tragedy could befall any parent or caregiver. Instead, it emphasized the busy nature of modern life, which can inadvertently tax our memory and lead to such devastating oversights.
To prevent such heart-wrenching incidents, the group recommended several measures for parents to adopt. For instance, leaving a crucial item, like a phone, in the back seat with the child can serve as a reminder. They also suggested that parents request their childcare providers, babysitters, or kindergarten teachers to notify them promptly if their child fails to arrive at the expected time.
Furthermore, parents and caregivers could explore technological solutions such as car seats equipped with sensors or alarms, Global Positioning System (GPS) trackers, or smartphone apps that feature alerts and reminders like Waze.
The group also urged members of the public to take immediate action if they encounter a child left alone in a vehicle.
