Special needs boy left on swealtering bus for 5 hours

It is no secret that we are having record breaking temperatures across the country. It is also no secret that interiors of vehicles heat up very quickly. This story comes from NJ, where a 4 year old boy was left inside a school bus due to the inability of the driver and the drivers aide to take 30 seconds out of their busy day and check to make sure there were no kids left on the bus.

It does not seem like that would be so hard. Instead the dont check and essentially they leave this kid in the bus to roast. I cant imagine the fear this kid felt. The kid has a mental disability and he is 4 years old. It is a pretty safe bet that he had no idea how to get off the bus. He was trapped, and luckily a mechanic found the boy and immediately alert authorities.

Luckily the child suffered no ill effects. This could have been a far worse story if the child was not discovered til the next day. I would venture to guess that the child would have died. Criminal charges of endangerment and neglect are pending. Click the link for full story.

newyork.cbslocal.com...

Here is a study done about heat related illnesses inside vehicles.

pediatrics.aappublications.org...

Previous studies found that on days when ambient temperatures exceeded 86°F, the internal temperatures of the vehicle quickly reached 134 to 154°F. We were interested to know whether similarly high temperatures occurred on clear sunny days with more moderate temperatures. The objective of this study was to evaluate the degree of temperature rise and rate of rise in similar and lower ambient temperatures.

Yesterday the temperature in New Jersey was in the 90's, inside the bus the temperature could have easily got to 160 or higher.

At least the aide has been sacked. Appalling, to say the least.

A Miracle the child was able to last that long in the sweltering heat.

I do certainly hope one if not two of them face criminal charges over this.

reply to post by AnonymousFem


Yeah these two people definately need to spend some time behind bars. Hopefully somewhere in the south were they can spend plenty of time in heat.

It seems to me that it shouldn't be too difficult for vehicle manufacturers to install movement sensors connected to an alarm, inside a vehicle. Only when the internal temperature is a certain amount hot and cold, and there is movement within, and under a certain amount of minutes.

reply to post by simone50m


True that could be done, but instead of putting so much money into installing that on countless vehicles, wouldnt it just be easier for the driver to walk up and down the aisle to check for kids. It would take him less than 30 seconds to do that.