Joplin Police rescue 20-month-old accidentally locked in car in dangerous heat

(From the Joplin Police Department)

Dangerous Heat

At lunch time Friday we got a call to Hardee’s at 18th and Main of a 20-month-old child locked in a car with windows up, not running. 

A pure accident occurred where the male and female pulled up to Hardee’s, got out of car to get child out of backseat and had accidentally left key in vehicle and locked it in process so they called us. 

An officer two blocks away responded and assessed the situation while an officer five blocks away arrived and made a quick attempt to gain entry that failed. 

Dispatch told officers it was 90 degrees and they saw the child was very hot and sweating already and knew the dangers involved with a hot vehicle. The second officer carries a window punch and used it to break the window furthest from the child to avoid injury to them. The child was rushed into Hardee’s where he quickly cooled down with ice water and cold cloths provided by Hardee’s staff.

We remind the community accidents happen, but in this heat a quick response is vital to keep kids safe! Thank you Hardee’s for the help!