“The distance that separates me from someone who forgets a baby is small”

A tragedy that happened this Thursday in Almada continues to move the country. An 18-month-old baby died after being left in a car by a daycare employee who attended. The subject has raised some issues such as child transport protocols and their safety.  

Journalist Mafalda Anjos published on social networks in this regard, calling for empathy for all stakeholders. The communicator also told a situation that happened to you but had a happy ending. 

“One day, I was coming from the pediatrician with my daughter, and she fell asleep in the back seat. Quietly. I arrive at the roundabout along the path I used to make every day and head towards the Express. I knew it quickly, it was only a few seconds, but I felt a physical pain, I had a really violent beat. Because I realized that the distance between me and someone who forgets a baby in the car can be very small. A lot of accumulated stress, many sleepless nights, lives shattered by worries – all this makes us “lose our heads” in various ways, reported the communicator. 

Mafalda says that “it always tells this story when such tragedies occur,” showing empathy for the “worshipping pain of these parents” but also for the employee. “I can’t imagine the pain of this woman, who will have to deal forever with the guilt of this fatal distraction, certainly unintentional,” he said. 

After talking about this case at CNN, Mafalda received messages from people who know the actors of this tragedy, who help to elucidate what happened. 

“I received this message from a mother who knows the family and also knows the employee. She says she is a "sensitive and kind woman who has made a serious mistake". It must have consequences for your act of negligence, surely. But let us not be injured throwing people into the fire ", explained.

At the end of the text, the journalist called for the obligation to set up alert systems in the transport of babies and children. 

“ As for the state, regulates so much cometinha, it was time to regulate the mandatory of baby transport alert systems ", said.

 

 

 

 

 

See this picture on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Mafalda Anjos (@mafaldanjos)

Ana Garcia Martins also reacted to what happened, questioning what could have been done to prevent this tragedy. 

“ These stories of babies who die forgotten in cars are killing me. Normally, when I know my kids don't go to school, I send a message. But if there is no warning from the parents, if the children don't show up, isn't it possible for the school to call and ask if it's okay, if the child is just late, anything?

Wouldn't that help at all? I don’t want to pass all the responsibility on to schools, but knowing that there are several such cases, a call after a short time could make a difference,” said The Sweetest Popcorn. 

Here's the whole Sofia baby story.