It is alarming to witness cases where what some parents perceive as acceptable behavior crosses the lines of common sense and responsible parenting. This was the case when a mother left her child in a locked car to go shopping on a sweltering hot day, leading to a distressing situation that could have had tragic consequences…
What some parents consider acceptable behavior baffles our common sense…
When a mother left her child in a hot car while she went shopping, it didn’t take long for the child to become upset and start wailing.
Fortunately, retired Sergeant Steve Eckel heard the child’s cries and knew he had to intervene.
Steve, a sergeant with the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office, was in a Howell Township, New Jersey, parking lot when he heard a baby cry.
He knew he had to act fast because the 4-month-old was left in the car wailing so loudly.
It was a hot day and Steve estimated that the temperature had reached an uncomfortable level.
“Well over 120 degrees, just think of what could have happened,” Steve told CBS New York.
Rushing back to the car in his flip-flops, he remembered he had a sledgehammer and smashed the window to free the frightened child.
“She was sweating, crying and her eyes were rolling back,” he told CBS New York.
The child was drenched in sweat, but still alive.
“I almost started crying at that point, I was really emotional,” Steve added. After about 40 minutes, the mother returned to her car to find that her window had been broken and her child was gone.
The child’s mother was arrested for endangering the welfare of a child and the child was turned over to her father.
“I believe in guardian angels,” Steve explained, “and I believe I’m the one for this child.”
As the story of this near-tragedy unfolds, it underscores the importance of raising awareness about the dangers of leaving children unattended in hot cars. It serves as a call to action for communities to educate parents and caregivers about the potentially fatal consequences of such negligence and the simple steps that can be taken to prevent it. Ultimately, this incident serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the capacity for individuals like Steve Eckel to step in when it matters most, reminding us all of the power of empathy, swift action, and the unwavering commitment to protecting innocent lives.