In Case You Missed It ...
Jun 30, 2009 7:34 pm US/Central
Alarm Helps Parents Remember Kids In Hot Cars
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
As temperatures rise into the triple digits outside, parents are again being reminded to be mindful of their kids, and not leave them alone in a hot car, even for a moment. Now, a Dallas company says their 'Child Minder' can help parents out, especially on hot days like those we have seen lately.
According to Baby Alert, the 'Child Minder' can prevent parents from getting cited, losing custody of their children, and can even save lives. Dr. Phillip Allison agrees, saying that any help is good help in his book. "There have been enough instances of kids being left, that it probably would be a good idea," he said.
James Henson recalled saving a baby just last week. "It was facing the back window," Henson said of the child. "And the heat was just beating down on the baby's face."
And a Good Samaritan saved a baby left in a hot car in a Fort Worth Wal-Mart parking lot after, according to police, 21-year-old mother, Jessica Liston, forgot the child while she went shopping.
However, sometimes, nobody is there to save the babies. So far, 22 children and infants have died this year alone across the United States. According to Dallas-based Baby Alert, the sound of an alarm can be a life saver. The 'Child Minder' can help you remember to never forget your baby.
Joycelyn Spears of Baby Alert explained, "The way that it reminds them is, the baby sits on a pad. And it's actually the parent has a key ring alarm unit. And when they walk away from the vehicle, the key ring will beep."
Doctors remind parents that exposure to the heat in a car can cause high heart rate, seizures and death. The damage can be done in just minutes.
Baby Alert said that prevention of pain and loss is their goal. They've sold 10,000 child alarm monitors, and some judges have even ruled them court ordered. "We even had a court from California and a court from Florida that mandated the parent use the Child Minder system," said Spears.
While some think that no monitor is needed, others believe that they are a good idea. "Anything that helps prevent something like that would be good," said North Texas father Darren Beckham.
The monitors are not sold in retail stores, but you can order them online for $69.
Click here to visit Baby Alert's website.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
RAW VIDEO: 100-Mile Police Chase
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
