Country superstar and American Idol winner Carrie Underwood recently shared that her son Isaiah was locked in the car when the singer’s dogs accidentally pressed the automatic lock inside the vehicle.
Underwood probably reacted the way most parents would: instant tears and panic as she tried to unlock the car doors.
Fortunately for her, her brother-in-law was on the scene to safely break one of the windows, freeing her four-month-old son and dogs from the hot vehicle.
How to rescue your child from a hot car
If you are ever in a similar situation, here is what you need to do according to TODAY.com:
- Call 911. Even if it’s embarrassing in the moment, you will be glad you did.
- Cover the windows to prevent your car from heating up so quickly.
- Break the window – if, and only if – the 911 crew will not be there quickly and you can do so without injuring yourself or the child trapped inside. Choose the window furthest from your child and use an object other than your own fist.
If you, like Underwood, happen to also lock your phone in the car with the child, track down someone nearby, explain what’s going on and ask to borrow their phone. As plan B, you can always break the window, but again, do so safely.
Children are especially susceptible to heat illness, so it is best to act quickly and take the situation seriously.
