Locksmith – It seems that when the summer comes, almost every day you can hear stories about toddlers being trapped in a car. Even though you might think it will never happen to you, a small lapse in judgment, a hectic day, or just some malfunction with the lock can lead to this scenario. It can happen to anyone. If it does, here are 5 things you can, and should do:
Keep Your Cool
Naturally, when such things happen, you will be shaken and frightened for your kid’s safety. But, like in any other emergency, keeping a cool head is the best thing you can do. Panicking will get you nowhere. It might, and probably will make the situation even worse. Your child is also more likely to remain calm if they see you not having a panic attack. So, remember, take a couple of seconds to reassess the situation in front of you, and regroup your thoughts.
Only after you have calmed down, it’s time to act quickly. These first couple of minutes are critical before the car overheats, but taking some time to take the analytical approach will help you make the most suitable decision. Now you’ll know whether to call the police, the locksmiths, or you have the resources to handle the matter on your own.
Dial 911
The first thing you should probably do is call emergency services. Although this is a no-brainer, some people avoid calling the police or the firemen, because they are embarrassed and feel others will judge them. Some are even scared that by calling 911, Child Services will be notified and they might face criminal charges.
But, if your child was locked in there by mistake, and you contacted the emergency personnel at once, there’s nothing to be afraid of. The police or the firemen will be dispatched to your location as soon as they get the call. So, if your phone is locked in there with your child, quickly find someone who can borrow you a phone.
Find an Emergency Locksmith
In many cases, you will be advised by the police to crack and break the windows yourself. Firefighters usually don’t carry the necessary tools to open the car doors. They will, in most cases, break a window, which you could have also done. So, the next logical step would be to call a locksmith.
In fact, find and contact a 24/7 locksmith, as you’ll be sure they are always available. Locksmiths like these arrive at your location in no time. Urgent situations are a priority for them, so they will usually drop what they have going on, and rush to meet you. Especially if children are involved. The best part of finding a skilled locksmith is that they can move around quickly and they will try to cause no damage to your car, just like you would have done.
Cover the Car
When you see your child helpless inside a hot car, every second will probably seem like an eternity. But, you have to be prepared for a waiting game. Even the fastest policemen and firefighters or the closest emergency locksmith will need a couple of minutes to reach your destination. And in those long, dreadful minutes, you need to find a way to make things even a little bit better for your kid.
The best thing you could do is to try and slow down the healing process. Grab hold of some blankets or sheets, and cover the windows to prevent sunlight from hitting directly into them. Cover as many windows as you can. You might think it won’t do any good, but in reality, those blankets will be just enough to keep the car from overheating.
Break a Window
When nothing else works, you won’t have the choice but to break the window. Do this in situations when help can’t get there soon enough. Look around and try to find any sharp pointed objects, like screwdrivers or any other pointy tool. These tend to work much better for such purposes, than blunt objects.
Grab what you have found and strike the edges of a window. Just make sure it is the window that is the furthest from your kid so that any shards of glass won’t hurt them. You don’t want to complicate your life even more! Take your kid out, and go and replace the window.
Parenthood is tough even without mishaps like this. As a responsible parent, you want to protect your kids at all times. Remember, accidents can happen to everyone. The best thing you can do for your child is to remain calm and reassure them everything is going to be just fine. After that, don’t hesitate to call for help! You’ll feel much more at ease with people who deal with such situations almost daily!
Author:
Patrick Adams is a freelance writer and rock-blues fan. When he is not writing about home improvement, he loves to play chess, watch basketball, and play his guitar. More than anything, he loves to spend his time in his garage, repairing appliances and creating stuff from wood.