Called 999 today, now feeling guilty about the consequences.m

[flanjabelle]

Today I was called over by two elderly ladies who were quite distressed. I had been walking down the road with dd and stopped to talk to them. They were upset because a car had two babies in it (one around 6 months, one around 18 months) in full sun and there were no parents.

I asked them how long they had been there and the ladies said over 5 minutes and no one had come to the car. The baby was in the back, screaming his little head off, and the toddler was in the front, both in full sun.

I looked around, no one was coming to the car, the shops are right down the other end of the street and no one was coming. I called 999 after being there for around 4 minutes. The police asked me what was happening and I had explained where we were and what was wrong. They were telling me someone was coming out to us as a woman came back to the car. One of the ladies asked her if it was her car, she said it was, and shouted at the elderly lady that she had only been in the bank. I told her she shouldn't leave her babies in the car alone, definitely not in this heat! (It was 25 degrees here this afternoon and very sunny.) The bank is around a hundred yards away, at the beginning of the road. She was parked on double yellow lines near the town car park, but not in it.

The police told me they could hear what was happening and told me to get the registration of the car. I did as the woman got in the car and roared off up the road at speed.

The police told me they had her address and would be going there to pay her a visit.

Now I'm pretty sure I did the right thing, but now I'm having wobbles about the knock on effect of this. She is going to get a ss referral now isn't she. Should I have waited longer? In total she would have been away from the car for at least 12-15 minutes if not more as I don't know how long she had been gone when the ladies noticed the babies alone.

After she left I spent a while comforting the ladies as they found it all very upsetting. I don't think they had mobile phones as they didn't seem to know what to do in the situation, they were just very upset to see the babies alone and one of them clearly distressed.

Aibu for what I did today? Does what she did justify the consequences that are going to happen now? Should I have just waited by the car? Just having a wobble now.

[TormundGiantsbabe]

You did nothing wrong.

[KP86]

Of course you did the right thing.

[gamerchick]

No you did the right thing. Heat builds up in a car FAST. Just a couple of minutes it can be unbearable.

This could be a snapshot of a bigger picture and the mother might need some support in some way.

Don't beat yourself up.

[Cocacolaandchocolate]

Completely the right thing to do

[BlackeyedPetitsPois]

You did the right thing. Absolutely no excuse for leaving the children on her car. Especially as the baby was screaming.
No brainer in my opinion. Good for you OP.

[imposteracademic]

Absolutely the right thing. So dangerous!

[NaffOffMartha]

You definitely did the right thing. I mean that from a safety point of view: it's just not OK to leave kids or dogs in cars in the sun. I don't know about SS visits or whatever but they're not going to rush to "take her kids" or anything like that.

[BlackeyedPetitsPois]

*in her car

[horseygeorgie]

100% the right thing.

[seeyounearertime]

You did absolutely he right thing and any knock on is a result of the mothers actions and deserves everything that happens.

[AuntieMaggie]

IMO you were right to call the police. I've left ds in the car to pop into a shop, take some stuff in the house etc but never for that long and always in sight and definitely not in that heat!

[Nannawifeofbaldr]

You did the right thing, if a chat with the police makes the mum think twice in future you could have helped saved those children's lives.

[HelloCanYouHearMe]

She was gone for 15mins and left 2 babies in a car in full sun on a 25 degree day.... damn right you should have called the police.

It would have been a lot hotter in the car. So, so dangerous

[Aeroflotgirl]

Of course you did the right thing, silly irresponsible mother.😡😡😡😡

[Walkacrossthesand]

You did the right thing - how long is reasonable to wait by a parked car with 2 babies in it, one screaming? It shouldn't be happening at all, you hoped a parent would materialise straight away, but they didn't, so you called for help. I imagine the family will get a visit from the child protection police +/- social services; if there have been other concerns reported then this may be the final straw, and quite right too. The mum could have (should have) taken babies into bank with her. She didn't.

[Junosmum]

I'm a social worker. YWNBU. The children were at risk and distressed. They're likely to get a referral to social services but that's good. They can help her understand why her actions were inappropriate and what risks her children were under (as she clearly couldn't see it) and it will hopefully prevent her doing it again. It could have been much worse.

[Redglitter]

You definitely did the right thing.

[QueenArseClangers]

She was a fucking nob and you did the right thing.
Don't doing yourself love 💐

[Sassypants82]

It would have been totally irresponsible to do anything other than exactly what you did. Well done.

[HeffalumpHistory]

You absolutely did the right thing op.
I totally get your wobble but please be assured that you did the right thing.

[QueenArseClangers]

*doubt not doing!

[silverdrawers]

You absolutely did the right thing. Thank you for caring

[RJnomore1]

op for being brave enough to do the right thing.

[DebCee]

I knew a single parent who used to leave her twins asleep in the car while she did her supermarket shop. Someone called the police one time and they paid a visit to her home. She was very cross because she thought it was a safe and reasonable thing to do. But as far as I know, it just went as far as a word, don't think social services ever got involved.

She might get a warning but I doubt there would be further consequences, I think you did the right thing.