According to a release from Jersey City Medical Center, as of mid-July over 16 children in the U.S. have already passed away this summer because of heatstroke after they were left in hot cars.
A passerby reported a baby locked in a car in Hoboken, New Jersey and called the police. When the emergency responders arrived they had to smash the window to enter the vehicle. However, what the responders found was not a baby but a life-like doll in a child’s car seat.
The doll had been placed in the seat by the 2-year old granddaughter of the car owner, Kitty Mieles.
The president of Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corps stated: “I saw pictures of the doll, and it looked real. I got 34 years experience in EMS, and I probably would have broken the window, too. Seconds are paramount there. That’s the difference between a baby breathing, not breathing, pulse, no pulse. You can replace a window, but you can’t replace a life.”
The situation caused some laughs amongst members of the Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corps. Apparently, Hoboken is reimbursing Mieles for the broken window. Mieles was light-hearted about the drama, promising to never leave her granddaughter’s doll in the car seat again.
Featured image via rare.us
