Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
IRVING, Texas — Nurses at Baylor Medical Center in Irving, Texas have developed a program that helps remind new parents not to leave their baby in their car.
The group gives all new parents teddy bears that serve as visual reminders before they leave the hospital.
When the baby is in the backseat, the bear is on a key chain.
This little guy, or girl I should say, sits on the key chain while they're driving and, looking down, they see the little teddy bear.
–Tina Austin, Baylor Irving education coordinator
#austin_quote
When the baby gets taken out of the car, the bear sits in the back seat.
"This little guy, or girl I should say, sits on the key chain while they're driving and, looking down, they see the little teddy bear," explains Tina Austin, Baylor Irving's education coordinator.
The nurses have given out more than 2,000 bears since beginning Backseat Buddies in the spring of 2010.
Mother Lacey Spillman said her new little buddy will help her wherever she goes.
"It's always nice to have a reminder," she said. "It really is, because I mean, anxiety can really boggle you down and the medication as well."
Related:
'Never Leave Your Child Alone' organizers show dangers of hot cars
Associated Retail Stores and Primary Children's Medical Center teamed up to launch the Never Leave Your Child Alone safety campaign. They want to remind parents it is never safe to leave children unattended in a vehicle.Spillman, who gave birth to her daughter, Savannah, on Monday, said it's very difficult to mentally prepare for a new child in the home.
The 23-year-old has another child and said motherhood can get chaotic.
"There has been times where I've had such anxiety, where I've had him right next to me, and I've looked around, and I didn't see him sitting right there. And I've gone, 'Oh my gosh, where is my baby?'" she said.
As the temperatures warms up, babies and small children are more prone to danger if left behind.
Austin said a car can heat up very quickly in a matter of minutes and oxygen levels can quickly drop.
