Lawmakers approve alarms in day care vehicles
MADISON (AP) - Day care providers would have to install alarm systems in their vehicles to make sure drivers don't leave children behind under a bill state lawmakers approved Tuesday.
The state Senate approved the measure on a voice vote. The Assembly voted unanimously to approve it hours later with no debate.
The bill now goes to Gov. Jim Doyle for his signature, the last step before it becomes law. The governor supports the measure, his spokesman, Lee Sensenbrenner, said.
At least 27 children nationwide have died after being left in day care vans since 1994, according to KidsandCars.org, a national group that works to advance child safety around automobiles. Three Wisconsin children - two in Milwaukee and one in West Allis - have died since 2005 after they were left in day care vehicles for hours.
The bill's author, Sen. Spencer Coggs, D-Milwaukee, said he attended the visitation for 4-month old Jalen Knox-Perkins, who died of hyperthermia earlier this month after a driver allegedly left him in a day care van for hours. The infant's coffin was no bigger than a car seat, he said.
"Senators, we have to stop the children from dying," Coggs said. "We can't legislate common sense. But this we can do."
Day care providers warned the alarms aren't the ultimate safety solution, though. A driver could have a child hit a button to turn the device off, they said, and current attendance protocols should ensure children's safety if they're followed correctly.
Apr 29, 2009 at 12:35 p.m.
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it is about time they do this
Apr 29, 2009 at 10:13 a.m.
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A lot of these tragedies could be avoided if the day care operators would call the parents if a child is expected and doesn't arrive. I know when my son was sick and I kept him home I called to let them know. If a kid isn't there and no phone call from a parent was received, pick up the phone and call the parents. How difficult is that? The schools in Janesville call home if a parent hasn't called their child in sick. Obviously it seems to be too difficult for the drivers to check the vehicle before parking it for the day but there is no reason the operators themselves can't keep better track of these kids. Day care operators should know the exact schedule of each child, whether they are there every day or every other day, etc. There is NO excuse for this to happen at all. The same thing goes for the parents that are too stressed or tired or whatever else to realize they drove to work with junior in the backseat and leave him in the car all day instead of dropping him off to daycare. If he doesn't show up, call the parent that was responsible for getting him there. That would fix a lot of those tragedies as well. Running a daycare can't just be about the money. You have to care about the well being of these children. Otherwise find another line of work.
Apr 29, 2009 at 8:33 a.m.
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Hey, peacegirl, the question is whether there are other things that they're NOT doing that could save more children and improve the lives of more children. For example, the rules now around bankruptcy, which only allow a 40,000 exception for a homestead, are directly impacting families and children because they have to sell their houses. Foreclosure is another example. All of this leads to children on the street, but the legistlators only have time for this feel-good regulation that will in most likelihood never save one child and possibly make it difficult for families to afford daycare since it will increase the price.
Apr 29, 2009 at 5:59 a.m.
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If it saves ONE child, it is all worth it!
Apr 29, 2009 at 2:21 a.m.
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There are different kinds of devices. They detect body warmth, heartbeats, weight, or something else. Some of them simply won't let a driver move away from a vehicle without physically disabling the alarm in a place where they can see the baby seat. It's new technology and they're trying different approaches.
http://www.kidsandcars.org/
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One was developed by NASA engineers after an incident at the same daycare used by one of them.
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/langley/news...
http://www.nasatech.com/NEWS/Jul02/who_0...
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"Overloaded, exhausted, distracted or confused by a change in routine, working parents can completely forget that they've left their children unattended. Others may leave sleeping children in car seats while they exit their vehicles for what they believe will be a quick errand. Yet, left alone for only a few minutes, a small child can be abducted, set the vehicle in motion, or -- even on a seemingly mild day -- suffer a deadly heatstroke."
Apr 28, 2009 at 11:08 p.m.
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tell us more about how it works please! i get that its an alarm, but what makes it go off, how does it help?
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