Quote:
Originally Posted by GGG
This Grinds my Gears. Why do we have to judge other parents in this situation for having a different risk tolerance than ourselves.
The question we need to ask is how many kids die or get kidnapped each year from being left in a car for less than 15 minutes in non-extreme weather? Then that risk needs to be compared with how many injuries are there from slip and falls in parking lots with kids, how many vehicle pedestrian collisions occur with kids, how many kids get kidnapped/lost in malls/stores. Once we have properly assessed the risk then we can pass judgement. All I know is that the risk of harm coming to the child in either situation is ridiculously low. And no doubt order of magnitudes safer than driving to Ikea in the first place.
My own personal policy is that if I can see the car then I will leave the kids in, if I cant then I bring them in. But I shouldn't judge people within reason if they take marginally more or less risk. Especially when we don't know which is safer.
|
Agreed 100%. Surely I'm not the only one that remember being left in the car as a kid? Christ I hated shopping. Guess how many times I got hurt? ZERO.
If your kid is an idiot and is going to open the door and wander off, then sure, don't leave them. Otherwise? There's many many other things you've probably done that same day that is more dangerous. Like driving to the store in the first place.
I wouldn't do it nowadays because the Helen Lovejoys of the world would call in a friggin' tactical team over it. But really, unless the temperature is extreme, I see no problem.