3-Year-Old Thai Girl Still In I C U After Left Unattended All Day In Parked School Van

[webfact]

TRAGEDY
Kindergartener still in ICU
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- A three-year-old remained in intensive care yesterday after she was left unattended all day in a parked school van on Wednesday.

"Her brain is swollen," said Saowanee Chaisuparassameekul, a member of the Paediatric Critical Care Medicine unit at Bangkok Hospital.

The teacher and driver were not aware that Manassanan Thongphoo left inside the locked vehicle until the end of the school day. The child's mother, Rattana Nakhonsopa, was told later that her daughter was found unconscious.

Rattana has called on the Pavena Foundation for Children and Women for help. Pavena Hongsakul has said she has already reported the case to police for further action.

-- The Nation 2013-04-05

[Locationthailand]

Is this possible? A driver taking children to school leaves a child in the vehicle all day and the school does not notice the absence of a student and question it knowing she is transported to the school by their own people? Thoughts and wishes are with you little one. The driver and the school both need to be brought up on culpable negligence charges.

[fareastguy]

One must ask oneself does the classroom teacher actually take a register of children present for school each morning, and do they investigate any students absentees ??

A quick chat with the driver to confirm a child is indeed missing, if so backed up by a phone call to the family to verify a child is at home.

Obviously a "communication breakdown" or more simply the school has no check system in place!!

In this instance someone must be held accountable in the very least for their actions in leaving the child in the van & the school for not having a correct procedure!!

Little I guess will actually happen, a bunch of flowers for the mother & a lame apology.

[Gonzo the Face]

This type of 'head in the clouds' mentality really tears me up, especially when it comes to children. You see so many instances every day where children seem to be treated with the same or less concern than a bag of potatos. Parents or minders apparently in lala land. Never a thought or worry, UNTIL ! ! ! !

No matter if you are a believer or not, or whatever God you may pray to, please offer your thoughts and prayers for the full and complete recovery of this special little one

G

[Payboy]

The morning news club will milk this for a few days and forget all about it later.

[Tywais]

What a horrible and reprehensible thing to happen to this little girl. The system failed her on multiple levels. The driver for not taken a few seconds to do a scan of the inside of the van, the teachers for not keeping track of those in their care. My thoughts go out to the parents and the child.

[retell]

hope you make a full recovery little one

[phuturatica]

Wow all sorts of thoughts are running through my head about this one? It's quite worrying how simple checks were not carried out to prevent something like this happening.

It's also scary to think that sitting in a parked car in the sun all day is so dangerous!?

[jamhar]

Yep, heat in a parked car can build quickly,

esp if its in the sun, and windows are closed ( i dont know that was the case in this situation)

First thought was for the safety of the girl

Being a parent of a girl in the first year of school, and having been out on group outings with other kids

I know how playful and mischievous they can get.

one can play hide-and-seek with you, without telling you

and the other can play along to see how long they can fool you

all in fun of course.

But it can be dangerous, which is why i discouraged such behavior.

But teachers should be experienced enough to push aside such distractions.

So i can understand, and i cant understand.

such is life i suppose.

Losing track of a child is never good, and can be tragic

like for this little girl

[Morden]

I hope the poor little girl makes a full recovery.

[swifty5x5]

All school bus drivers should have a special license to transport children. Number one to be able to drive and secondly to ensure an IQ above 60.

[Morden]

All school bus drivers should have a special license to transport children. Number one to be able to drive and secondly to ensure an IQ above 60.

That might create a scarcity of drivers.

[asiasurfer]

That is just outrageous. In these days a car in the sun is getting hot like a frying pan. The girl probably fell asleep and did therefore not get noted by the driver. Hope she gets well soon...

[DocN]

IN: "1,2,3,4.....15!"

OUT: "1,2,3,4...14! One is missing!"

Is even that asked too much of this "mai pen rai"- country?

[bdw]

if it was my child teacher would not be smiling ,like she did on tv, she would be in I.C.U.

It's a reactionary smile. They smile when they're nervous. Thais will smile in many situations what we think odd, but other Thais can tell which kind of smile it is. They don't call it LOS for nothin' !

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

They guy in the photo looks like Mister Spock with sprayed on hair.

Hope the child recovers. What a trauma

[Dibbler]

Let's have the name of the school at least, so we can know never to send our children there!

[scorecard]

What a horrible and reprehensible thing to happen to this little girl. The system failed her on multiple levels. The driver for not taken a few seconds to do a scan of the inside of the van, the teachers for not keeping track of those in their care. My thoughts go out to the parents and the child.

In some cultures people are taught specifically by parents, and by observations of the general behaviors of society around us to have a high level of responsibility, and a high level of duty of care, both for immediate loved ones and for others. But....

Let's all hope that the little one recovers fully and quickly.

[overherebc]

Wow all sorts of thoughts are running through my head about this one? It's quite worrying how simple checks were not carried out to prevent something like this happening.

It's also scary to think that sitting in a parked car in the sun all day is so dangerous!?

In Thailand and countries with a similar climate it's possible to get temperatures in the 140 to 150 degrees F range in only an hour if the vehicle is left in the sun. you're right it is scary.

[chrischronic]

<deleted>!!!!!

This is Crazy!!

I remember when I was young whenever we got on or off a bus there was a role call and count.

This is criminal and the people involved should be fired and brought up on charges.

[pattayaorganic]

Well people, it is not part of the Thai culture to manage so carefully something as variable as child attendance at school. When our kids are sick and don't go to school, sometimes the teacher will call to ask why the child hasn't showed up in school and other days...no call. It just isn't ingrained in their culture to manage these types of issues.

Given the Thai culture is what it is and no amount of ranting on this forum is going to change it, we just need an emergency exit system on the bus that can be opened from the inside. This is mandatory on all buses in the US. Why the little girl didn't scream or try to get anybody's attention or open the door to leave the bus?

Finally, the driver or teacher will never be brought up on charges in Thailand. That is very naive. She has a reasonable chance for recovery under proper care and at least she is in Bangkok Hospital not some rural dungeon, so it seems they are doing their best to give her the best possible care.

[Donnie Brasco]

Who's really surprised ?

[kotsak]

When it comes to donation money they are very precise, careful and diligent.. But they fail miserably when it comes to thinking the cost of human lives.. It's just pathetic!

[Suradit69]

What a horrible and reprehensible thing to happen to this little girl. The system failed her on multiple levels. The driver for not taken a few seconds to do a scan of the inside of the van, the teachers for not keeping track of those in their care. My thoughts go out to the parents and the child.

It does beggar belief that someone transporting such young children wouldn't be on hand to help them off and to check to see if they left any of their belongings behind ... during which process the child could hardly have been over-looked. And if the driver was assumed incapable of that then someone from the school should be present to receive at least these very young children on arrival each morning.

[Businessman]

This is terrible.

Parents, do your best to teach them how to deal with danger, because we cannot count on others for our kids safety.

I know this girl is very young and maybe too young to train but I started training my daughter how to handle being lost in public places and how to escape possible abduction very early. Granted I never taught her how to deal with being locked in a vehicle but I will do that today. Sound the horn, open windows,unlock doors, survive!

I do not excuse the adults responsible in this case. But I'm also not willing to leave my kid without whatever skills I can give her to deal with the dangers that life may throw our way. Does your kid know your mobile number? Your address?

Please TVers spare me the usual rhetoric. I'm not blaming the child or her parents, I am encouraging all parents to prepare their kids how to handle dangers that may arise.

[jacko45k]

All school bus drivers should have a special license to transport children. Number one to be able to drive and secondly to ensure an IQ above 60.

That is going to be a tough job to fill here.

[andygunther]

IN: "1,2,3,4.....15!"

OUT: "1,2,3,4...14! One is missing!"

Is even that asked too much of this "mai pen rai"- country?

Or just look through the bus before they park...

[biplanebluey]

Well people, it is not part of the Thai culture to manage so carefully something as variable as child attendance at school. When our kids are sick and don't go to school, sometimes the teacher will call to ask why the child hasn't showed up in school and other days...no call. It just isn't ingrained in their culture to manage these types of issues.

Given the Thai culture is what it is and no amount of ranting on this forum is going to change it, we just need an emergency exit system on the bus that can be opened from the inside. This is mandatory on all buses in the US. Why the little girl didn't scream or try to get anybody's attention or open the door to leave the bus?

Finally, the driver or teacher will never be brought up on charges in Thailand. That is very naive. She has a reasonable chance for recovery under proper care and at least she is in Bangkok Hospital not some rural dungeon, so it seems they are doing their best to give her the best possible care.

She may have been trying to scream or shout but we do not know how far away the bus was parked,Maybe she eventually collapsed in exhaustion and passed out---Who knows. I am sitting here trying to write this with tears in my eyes.I feel so bloody annoyed that this poor little girl should have been made to suffer in such a terrible way.My heart goes out to you my darling.Do not give in.Come back to us soon.God bless you------------ Dougal the shattered Kiwi

[sangfroid]

That is just outrageous. In these days a car in the sun is getting hot like a frying pan. The girl probably fell asleep and did therefore not get noted by the driver. Hope she gets well soon...

This from Australia a few days back.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-29/cops-locks-4yo-daughter-in-sweltering-car/4601390

[Morden]

Well people, it is not part of the Thai culture to manage so carefully something as variable as child attendance at school. When our kids are sick and don't go to school, sometimes the teacher will call to ask why the child hasn't showed up in school and other days...no call. It just isn't ingrained in their culture to manage these types of issues.

Given the Thai culture is what it is and no amount of ranting on this forum is going to change it, we just need an emergency exit system on the bus that can be opened from the inside. This is mandatory on all buses in the US. Why the little girl didn't scream or try to get anybody's attention or open the door to leave the bus?

Finally, the driver or teacher will never be brought up on charges in Thailand. That is very naive. She has a reasonable chance for recovery under proper care and at least she is in Bangkok Hospital not some rural dungeon, so it seems they are doing their best to give her the best possible care.

She may have been trying to scream or shout but we do not know how far away the bus was parked,Maybe she eventually collapsed in exhaustion and passed out---Who knows. I am sitting here trying to write this with tears in my eyes.I feel so bloody annoyed that this poor little girl should have been made to suffer in such a terrible way.My heart goes out to you my darling.Do not give in.Come back to us soon.God bless you------------ Dougal the shattered Kiwi

I share your feelings. The one thing that gets to me is children suffering.