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Original poster

HEALTH WARNING ON ELECTRIC WINDOWS

42 replies

Hattiecat · 20/07/2006 16:57

have just had most hideous experience - left baby in car with windows OPEN, locked car, always in view of it as went to pick up dd1 at school (i've been v poorly so thought no need to get buggy out of car, baby out of car seat etc etc.). asked dd1 to get in car (opened with remote locking) talked to a friend so was quite a few minutes (can't say how many cos so traumatised by it) went back to car to find ALL WINDOWS SHUT. my car is renault grand scenic turns out all windows are automatically shut when the car is locked, so one very red, hot, soaked through baby......i know its my fault for leaving her there but i genuinely thought she was safe. please if all your car windows are electric don't make the same mistake i have just done, i dread to think what could have happened if i'd been a few minutes later. am really upset by the whole thing...

OP posts:

moreteaanyone · 20/07/2006 16:59

Bloody hell Hattiecat, give baby a hug from me. And give yourself a large drink!!!! What a hellish experience I will test the car straight away.

Original poster

Hattiecat · 20/07/2006 17:29

want to put this message elsewhere as am so shocked at what happened - anyone any ideas where it could go?

OP posts:

tenalady · 20/07/2006 17:40

Yes a lot of cars have this security measure in place. Our merc used to do the same, close sunroof and turn lights off if left on for more than a few minutes. It was normally triggered by the auto central locking device that somehow reads that you havent secured the car properly and does it for you. Nifty idea normally, but this sort of thing had not been accounted for! Thank god you werent too long.

tenalady · 20/07/2006 17:41

just keep bumping it.

southeastastra · 20/07/2006 17:42

poor bubba! that's quite a dangerous feature, are the back windows automatic too?

Original poster

Hattiecat · 20/07/2006 17:52

yes, its all automatic, unlike my old car - its the first summer that have had both car and baby (well obviously the baby!) so just didn't think and was trying to make life easier for both of us by not taking her out of her seat and letting her chill for a bit in what i thought was a well ventilated car. the sweat was literally running off her and her clothes were absolutely wringing wet...

OP posts:

tenalady · 20/07/2006 17:54

I find it irritating when you are in a garage forecourt and you dont want to hump the whole baby and seat out to pay. So naturally you lock the doors but the minute baby moves the bloody alarms kick off.

I then started to move car off forecourt in front of where you pay but that can only happen if there is a space.

MerlinsBeard · 20/07/2006 17:58

sent dp out to check ours. i know that they stay open when u turn the engine off, not sure about when doors are locked.

PrettyCandles · 20/07/2006 17:58

Frightening! I had no idea that this could happen. As far as I know, our car doesn't do this, and I always leave open windows if I have to leave children in the car.

Most cars have a safety setting on the electric windows to prevent them closing completely if they are obstructed (there were cases of children being strangled while playing with electric windows some years ago). If you need to leave the car with the windows open, can you perhaps take advantage of this safety setting by leaving something like, say, a child's toy draped over the window - and hope that some 'helpful' passer-by doesn't pop it back into the car. That way, when the windows shut automatically, there will be an obstruction to stop them and that window at least will remain open.

hulababy · 20/07/2006 18:00

Mine don't automatically shut. I know this as I found my back window slightly open yesterday morning!

Scary thought isn't though. Maybe instead of it just locking them for you, the car should give out a beeb or something instead.

makealist · 20/07/2006 18:08

Our Renault scenic also closes the windows, but only if you "double click" the lock. If you know what I mean.

moreteaanyone · 20/07/2006 18:09

bump

Original poster

Hattiecat · 20/07/2006 18:23

it really ought to do something so at least i would have known that it would happen - its not unusual to leave something in the car - what about dogs as well - sure they would have suffocated in the car today - it was revolting in there when i opened the door...

OP posts:

southeastastra · 20/07/2006 19:13

you can think of lots accidents that can happen with it.

NomDePlume · 20/07/2006 19:16

It's an anti-theft device. I guess they assume you won't be leaving kids/dogs etc in the car unattended.

SoupDragon · 20/07/2006 19:18

I don't think it's a dangerous feature at all. You shouldn't be locking children in the car anyway. Especially in this heat - even with the windows open it's like an oven.

NomDePlume · 20/07/2006 19:19

I don't think it is dangerous either, soupy.

Original poster

Hattiecat · 20/07/2006 19:34

no need to rub it in, i feel bad enough as it is.

OP posts:

southeastastra · 20/07/2006 19:35

i don't like electic windows anyway, course it is dangerous

daisy1999 · 20/07/2006 19:38

nobody should be in a stationary car in this heat with or without windows open. I wouldn't leave a dog never mind a baby.

QueenBodicea · 20/07/2006 19:49

How preachy and sanctimonious some posters are. Hattiecat has already said she feels bad about what happened and I understand entirely where she's coming from in it being simpler to leave the baby in the car for a couple of minutes with windows open.

LittleB · 20/07/2006 19:52

It was only a few minutes though wasn't it. I know my car doesn't do this and I'm concerned that more modern cars do this (mines 10yrs old, but might have one like this 10yrs from now). I take my dog to work with me alot (I'm a Countryside ranger), and often need to pop into the office for an hour, so leave her in the car, obviously not when its hot though, but I always leave the windows open for her to give her fresh air, and do the same for my dd when I get petrol. There should be a way to overide this surely?

daisy1999 · 20/07/2006 19:55

we were stopped in a car park today for 5 minutes with the window open and after less than a minute needed to switch the engine and air conditioning back on as it was unbearable.

niceglasses · 20/07/2006 19:56

'ave to say, gordonbennett girls, don't you think she feels bad enuff?

Original poster

Hattiecat · 20/07/2006 20:06

yeah, think i'll just go slit my wrists at clearly being a dreadful mother - which i was as perfect as everyone else.

OP posts:

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