Woman telling me to open my car windows

[Youknowitsnotthesameasitwas]

The other day I went to the petrol station with my 6 year old in the car. She’s currently off school as isn’t feeling well and we stopped to get petrol before heading to the Drs.
It’s our local petrol station, a small one. I always park at the pump closest to the large front window where the cashier is, it’s about the same distance as sitting on the sofa and watching tv.
Dd didn’t want to go in as she doesn’t feel well, it was a warm day but because Dd wasn’t feeling well she didn’t want the air con on or windows open. I parked outside and nipped in, being able to see her the whole time. I was behind one man in the queue paying and a woman came in and started asking if it was my child in the car and saying how the car windows should be open. I said to her, it literally takes me less than a minute to come in here and pay. She was still going on about it, at this point I started to feel pissed off and said ‘It’s ok, it’s my daughter, I know what I’m doing, she’s not very well and didn’t want the windows open and I’m just nipping in and out and can see her the whole time, ok?’

Was I in the wrong or was she?

It's got to be proportionate. And this example was just a Karen doing Karen things. And vulnerable member of society, wind it in, this is the OPs daughter she had eye of sight on at all times and left for literally a couple of minutes.

Of course. But I think the question is whether it was reasonable to be worried in this case.

I can't take anyone who uses the term "Karen" seriously.

People need to mind their own freaking business

yes and no to this! it depends on the circumstances... if the child was clearly in distress, then yes raise it with the forecourt staff who can put an announcement out on the tannoy..

how many of us with children have left them in the car while we pay for petrol or diesel, we are usually in and out within seconds.

again it would be different if you were doing an entire weeks shop and had been in there for hours and hours, but a couple of minutes..

the same with dogs.. if the dogs are clearly in distress... proper distress, then raise it, but most of the dogs in cars i've dealt with, when we've got there, there has been a window down and the dog is looking at us happy as larry..

hot cars do kill... but not in 2 or 3 minutes i dont think but i am sure someone will be able to give me a link to where this actually happened

Yep exactly. If DS was too hot in the car, he would open the window, or switch the air con back on. This is a complete non-issue.

OP, the words “thanks for your input”. whilst getting back in the car and driving off, are all you needed. No point in getting into an argument with a busybody.

Well, personally I'd rather someone worried unnecessarily and caused someone minor offence than didn't say anything and potentially ignored a dangerous situation.

You were fine in your decision but I don't get the outrage. We should be looking out for each other. People are all 'it takes a village' until anyone disagrees with them, however mildly. You owned your decision, now forget about it!;

How ridiculous. It's cooler in an AC'd car for a couple of minutes than with the windows down. People are too quick to criticize.

Same.
There should be an episode of black mirror where we get a glimpse of what society would be like without 'Karens doing Karen things'. Or 'sensible women giving a shit' as it often turns out to be.

Who is going to take childcare advice from a random stranger? She comes in and tells you what to do and gets the hump when you don't do what she says.

What was she expecting?

When you see the ridiculous behaviour of mothers, mainly mothers, in cars on the school run, I can't get upset about a stranger worrying about a child left in a car. People ARE stupid and do stupid things.

You are miffed because she touched a nerve, otherwise a "thanks she's fine" was enough and you would have forgotten the whole thing by the time you drove away.

The AC wasn't on.

The AC was not on.

Snap.

I simply wouldn't have dignified her with a reply. Just give her a dirty look, snigger and move on.

The temperature in Cars with windows closed can go up by 19 degrees in 10 mins,

That is in no way comparable to someone showing concern for a child.

That would say a hell of a lot more about you than anyone asking a simple question

Any reason why it's ok for a child but not a dog?

She was looking out for your daughter . You didn’t do anything wrong but as they say “ safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility “ . It’s good that there are people out there looking out .

It’s over now , but personally if it was me I would have said “ I really appreciate that you are looking out for children and you have done the right thing - but , she is unwell and cold and I can see her from here , she isn’t trapped in the car so there is no issue but I appreciate your concern “

Do dogs overheat faster?

It's highly unlikely that in the 3 minutes you were in the kiosk paying, that the car would turn into a death trap of searing heat.
I would tell the nosy old hag to keep her new out

Surely that must be with at least a couple of couples shagging?

Me neither.

You sound nice.