When and How to Knock Out a Window to Rescue a Child or Pet Trapped in a Hot Car
More and more states are passing laws allowing people to get into hot cars to save a child or pet without facing certain legal obligations. Oregon passed such a law this summer. Arizona will take effect on August 9 .
But before becoming a Samaritan savior, it is important to know when to act this way. This can be difficult.
If you see one child in the car and that child looks alert, calm and comfortable, you can – warning: this advice is hotly contested on the internet – wait a few minutes for the adult to return . I know I would love to live in a community that cares for our children and gives parents the right to have no doubts, but this is probably better left for another discussion.
Now, if you see a child or pet looking in danger and there are no unlocked doors, that’s a whole different story. Most states encourage people to call 911 first . Margaret Stewart, a Los Angeles Fire Department official, confirmed this to me. “If you see someone in distress, always call 911 immediately,” she said. “The dispatcher will assess the situation.”
At this point, you may have to smash the car window yourself. If you weren’t given specific instructions on how to do this, here are some tips.
- Use a very fine, hard tip. Safety glass is designed to withstand blunt forces, so hitting a window with a fist or rubber hammer will get you nowhere. In this video, Brian Brushwood, host of National Geographic’s Hacking the System, demonstrates how to take a spark plug, smash a piece of china from it, and use it to break glass. If you want such a tool to always be at hand, you can buy an escape keychain .
- You can also try using the headrest lugs.
- Aim at the bottom corner near the doorknob. Captain Paul Garrison of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office told NuggetNews.com : “ Wish this is the best way; easier to break free. One thing to worry about is breaking the window as far away from the child or animal as possible so that they don’t bump into the broken glass. “