Re: So it begins, warm weather kids left in cars..... - Page 6

jonbon · ‎03-09-2010

@Maggie Nolia wrote:
They don't forget their cell phones because their cell phones never leave her hands or pockets.

Why aren't they talking or singing to their child who is in the car? How is it that the child is so quiet back there?

They're often asleep.

jonbon · ‎03-09-2010

@Spurt wrote:
@jonbon wrote:
I'm going to post a fairly long passage from the Parents article I posted earlier in this thread. Perhaps it will help some understand how a tragedy like this can happen:

But that isn't the only factor in heatstroke deaths, and safety experts stress that the backseat remains the safest place for children. Another major contributor, one that's more difficult to comprehend, relates to the brain. "These are not negligent parents who have forgotten their kids," says David Diamond, Ph.D., a neuroscientist in the psychology department at the University of South Florida, in Tampa, who has reviewed the details of many hot-car deaths and has spent time with dozens of parents who unintentionally left their child in the car.

Understanding what they did, he says, requires grasping how two very different parts of the brain work. There are the basal ganglia -- the "background system" that controls our habits. "It allows us to do things without thinking about them," Dr. Diamond says. When you're training in sports, for example, you repeat an action over and over to fine-tune your skills. Once it's time to compete, the action is automatic. "Your basal ganglia take over and you don't have to think about how to bounce or shoot the ball."

Then there are the parts of the brain that control new information: the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. The basal ganglia and prefrontal cortex essentially compete with each other, Dr. Diamond says. When you change up your routine and do something different, then the new details have to be processed by the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex to override the basal ganglia's strong desire to perform actions out of habit.

The basal ganglia play a big part in driving. "Once you've driven from Point A to Point B enough times, you can do it without thinking," Dr. Diamond says. "You might not even remember the trip." If new information enters the picture (say, your partner calls to ask you to stop at the store and buy milk), your prefrontal cortex and hippocampus have to kick into gear to incorporate it. "But it's common to drive right past the store and come home. When your partner says, 'Where's the milk?' you feel flustered because you remember the conversation, but for some reason you came home instead." Why? Because you were on autopilot. "The basal ganglia actually suppress the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus from bringing that memory to your consciousness," explains Dr. Diamond.

Stress worsens this phenomenon, he adds. "It affects how our prefrontal cortex functions and makes it more likely we'll do something out of habit." And those factors, ultimately, are what allow otherwise responsible parents to leave their child in a car. In every hot-car death Dr. Diamond has studied, something was different about the routine that day. Jodie Edwards had to make two stops instead of her usual one. In other cases, Dad drove the baby instead of Mom or there was some other extra stress. And the basal ganglia won control.

It's one thing to forget a gallon of milk and quite another to forget a child? ... isn't it? Dr. Diamond has been challenged in this way many times. "As a parent I sympathize with that view," he says. "But as a scientist I can tell you that the basal ganglia can suppress all kinds of memories, even of things that are the most important to us."
It just sounds like someone just trying to find an excuse for negligent parents..So he's saying people can't control their own minds (the basal ganglia makes us forgetfulI so I wonder how one can funtion with all the nuances and daily new challenges we face in life 😆😆😆)..Sorry, but I still think it has to do more with distractions....their phones/social media, and their mind is on other things rather than the task at hand.....When something changes from my normal routine I'm totally focused on what's new and different.....I'm not much of a fan of psychology....I have friends that work in the field and Psychiatrists are some of the most messed up people with messed up lives that you'd ever meet.....that's why they go into the field in the first place..I dont give much thought to their theories....JMHO

A final few thoughts. First, a neuroscientist is not a psychiatrist; neuroscientists are specialists in the scientific study of the nervous system (including the brain). I hate posting huge quotes from other sources, but in another place, the article I linked way back says, "For mothers and fathers who have unintentionally left their child in a car, the aftermath couldn't be much worse: First and foremost, their child died. Second, they caused it. And third, the tragedy was completely preventable." Nobody is looking for an excuse; the parents know very well that a horrible thing happened because of them. And, yes, the whole idea is that we don't completely control what our brains do. It is truly an awful, awful thing to happen, but I believe that it could happen to anyone. I don't know how I would live with myself if I were to blame for my child's death, and I guess because of that I have some compassion for the people involved. I'm not at all a religious person, but for me, it brings to mind the phrase "There but for the grace of God go I."

occasionalrain · ‎03-10-2010

@jonbon If that were universally true, there would be hundreds, probably more, children left to die in hot cars weekly.

If people drive about mindlessly, not knowing how they got from home to work, they must be in a sort of wakeful sleep.

jonbon · ‎03-09-2010

@occasionalrain wrote:
@jonbon If that were universally true, there would be hundreds, probably more, children left to die in hot cars weekly.
If people drive about mindlessly, not knowing how they got from home to work, they must be in a sort of wakeful sleep.

You're exaggerating, but whatever. Those were my final thoughts on the matter.

apple1964 · ‎08-07-2013

I do not want to change the subject but, I saved a dog that was locked in hot car last summer. The poor dog was clawing the window trying to escape. I stayed with the dog and called 911 they came [very fast] and had to break the window to get the dog out. I think that people that do this are mental cases.And if I see a human being or animal locked in a car I will always call the police. This is a practice that should have a stiffer sentence.

apple1964 · ‎08-07-2013

@jonbon wrote:
@Maggie Nolia wrote:
They don't forget their cell phones because their cell phones never leave her hands or pockets.

Why aren't they talking or singing to their child who is in the car? How is it that the child is so quiet back there?
They're often asleep.

Cell phones seem to be more important then the children they leave in the cars. I think they would run back for there cell phones and still leave the children alone in the cars. This makes me sick to my stomach.

conniekl · ‎06-28-2011

This is so sad. There is no excuse for this. If they aren't used to a child in the back seat, then put a reminder in the front seat like a baby toy, bottle etc. I always talked to my children when we were in the car. Now I talk and sing to my grandchildren while we drive. Once I had a kids cd playing and all of a sudden my grandson started clapping to the song! These parents - caregivers are missing so much because they are too busy for their own children. I see parents walking their children around my street, and most are on their phones. These are your kids- talk to them- look at the bird, see the dog. So sad.

sidsmom · ‎11-25-2011

Curious, I Googled for more details.

1. The mother was WITH the baby in the car.

2. There was no ‘cell phone’ or ‘forgot’ blame within the story.

3. The phrase ‘left in a car’ technically is not correct

since the mother was with the baby.

I’m guessing the baby had a medical condition which wasn’t

addressed by the mother & the heat exacerbated the condition

without the mother knowing.

cherry · ‎03-09-2010

I just read about a German couple ,who took a Taxi home from the hospital. I think they might have had 4 people in the cab, and they forgot the baby!!!! ( all four of them left together, and not one of them gave the newborn a thought)

I hope they get some parenting classes, they are off to a bad start..

this is my nic · ‎03-30-2010

We're all assuming the parents are forgetting about their child in the back seat. Quite frankly, I have to wonder how many of these tragedies aren't due to forgetfullness, rather done purposely. I believe in these cases, the parents or babysitters, never see a day in prison because it was an "accident".