Boy Left In Hot Car While Couple Finishes Meal

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (AP) -- Police in northwest Georgia have rescued a boy from a hot car where his mother's companion is accused of tying him up.

Ringgold, Georgia, police say a Cracker Barrel restaurant employee called police after seeing Raymond Minchew take the 6-year-old out of the restaurant and return without him -- then finished eating his meal.

Police found the bound boy sitting in the car, crying.

Sergeant John Gass says the child was soaked with sweat and had a rope tied to one of his ankles. Gass says the temperature was in the 80s Saturday in Ringgold.

www.cnn.com...

The 61-year-old Minchew and the boy's mother -- 35-year-old Rachel Gilchrist -- were arrested and charged with cruelty to children and concealing a weapon. There was a handgun in the car.

I hate people who just don't get it.

You do not leave ANYONE in a vehicle on a hot day, not even animals.
Luckily this boy didn't get hurt or die. How many deaths will we see this summer becuase of this very thing?

Please I beg you, do not leave your children or pets in a hot vehicle, it only takes a few moments for the temperature to become very hot.

some info :

In 2007 there has been at least nine deaths of small children after being left inside a hot vehicle. Last year there were at least twenty-nine such fatalities in the United States due to hyperthermia after they were left in hot cars, trucks, vans and SUV's. This sadly followed forty-two child deaths in 2005. Since 1998 there have been at least a total of 323 of these needless tragedies. This study shows that these incidents can occur on days with relatively mild (i.e., ~ 70 degrees F) temperatures and can occur very rapidly.

LAWS

Only 11 states have laws prohibiting leaving a child unattended in a vehicle

Currently 14 states have proposed legislation making it a crime to leave a child unattended in a car, van, truck or SUV

In one state it is only a crime if the child is injured or dies

The remaining 24 states do not have laws against leaving a child unattended in a vehicle

MEDICAL

Heatstroke occurs when the core body temperature reaches 104 degrees F.
A core body temperature of 107 degrees F is considered lethal.
Children's thermoregulatory systems are not as efficient as an adult's and their bodies warm at a rate 3 to 5 times faster than an adult’s.

SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS

Do not leave a child in an unattended car, even with the windows down.
Be sure that all occupants leave the vehicle when unloading. Don't overlook sleeping babies.
Always lock your car. If a child is missing, check the car first, including the trunk. Teach your children that vehicles are never to be used as a play area.
Keep a stuffed animal in the carseat and when the child is put in the seat place the animal in the front with the driver.
Or place your purse or briefcase in the back seat as a reminder that you have your child in the car.
Make "look before you leave" a routine whenever you get out of the car.
Have a plan that your childcare provider will call you if your child does not show up for school.

ggweather.com...

This isn't just about leaving him in a car.That is simply the one thing they got caught doing.There are far too many neglectful parents that do not deserve children.Geez if you don't want to be a parent protect yourself, if that fails give it up for adoption.A handgun in the car , what was that there for? Rob a convenience store on the way home? Hopefully this child will never see his mother again.Sad to say but probably will be better off. It is really ticking me off that there seems to be such an increase in stories like this one.ElevatedOne I agree too that animals should not be left in a vehicle on a hot day .Leave them at home.

Not even the majority of reptiles can handle that type of heat, with little or no air flow. So imagine what it can do to fuzzy creatures or small children. People like that are just simply stupid and should not be allowed to look after anything, much less reproduce.

I can remember being a kid and on extremely hot days, my mom wouldn't even let us go outside.

Once, she was going to take us to the store, but it was too hot, the car had no air, and she didn't want to drag the 3 of us around the store and wouldn't leave us in the car, so she got a neighbor to come over and watch us at home.

See, all you have to do is use your head, think about it.

Yeah... whenever my finacee and I go anywhere with our son in warm/hot weather we start the van and turn on the air conditioning and leave it sit for 5-10 mins. I also go spend a lot of time at stores, my parents or friends houses that have air conditioning until we get a window unit.(Want centrel air but can't afford it right now... grrr)