Since 1990, well over 1,050 children in the United States have died after being left in hot cars. An untold number of additional kids have been left with permanent brain damage and other long-term injuries. The largest percentage of these kids were unknowingly left in a vehicle by a parent or caregiver. No one wants to believe their brain is capable of this kind of failure. Many place blame on these parents, accusing them of using drugs or alcohol or of being inattentive, neglectful, abusive, or even murderous. In reality, most kids who die in hot cars have loving, caring, sober, and even overprotective parents.
In this episode, I’ll attempt to reduce the stigma surrounding hot car deaths by digging into how these tragedies happen to people just like you and me. You’ll hear my conversation with Dr. David Diamond, a renowned neuroscientist who has spent decades studying the neurobiology of memory and has testified at countless hot car death trials. You’ll also hear my conversation with Janette Fennell, the founder and president of Kids and Car Safety, a nonprofit agency dedicated to saving the lives of children in and around motor vehicles, whose work has led to legislation mandating multiple life-saving technologies in newly-manufactured vehicles.
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Sample letter to send your members of Congress for mandated technology to prevent hot car deaths:
https://sufferthelittlechildrenpod.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/hot-car-letter.pdfKids and Car SafetyGene Weingarten’s Washington Post article, “
Fatal Distraction: Forgetting a Child in the Backseat of a Car Is a Horrifying Mistake. Is It a Crime?”
Susan Morgan Cooper’s Documentary,
Fatal Distraction, on IMDBDr. David Diamond’s
curriculum vitaeCover photo by Anastasia Shuraeva.
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Suffer the Little Children centers on the stories of children lost to abuse and murder, aiming to restore their narratives and dignity beyond the headlines. This podcast meticulously details individual cases, often weaving in the perspectives of surviving family members and advocates to create a fuller, more human picture of each tragedy. The host approaches these difficult subjects with a commitment to factual clarity and a deep sense of respect, ensuring the victims are remembered as people, not just statistics. Listeners will hear detailed examinations of systemic failures, legal proceedings, and the long-term impact on communities, framed within broader discussions about child welfare and protection. It is a challenging but necessary listen, designed to foster awareness and understanding rather than sensationalism. By dedicating each episode to a specific child's story, the Suffer the Little Children podcast creates a space for remembrance and reflection that is both sobering and vital. The content naturally intersects with societal, cultural, and scientific aspects of how such crimes are perceived and addressed.
Author: Suffer the Little Children
Language: English
Episodes: 100
