Could it happen to you?

I believe it could. We are all subject to our physiology. Memory is a physiological process. HHMI just did a holiday lecture series on memory this year. If you're interested you can find it here.

This is quite possibly the most painful thing I have ever read. It is graphic. It involves dead children. It could happen to me, and it could happen to you. I think the author, Gene Weingarten, has done a great service by having the intestinal fortitude to write this article, and there is good research behind it. If you are able to make it through the article, and are interested in more on it take a look at the question and answer chat he hosted on Monday.

The article is called "Fatal Distraction
Forgetting a child in the back seat of a hot, parked car is a horrifying, inexcusable mistake. But is it a crime?", and you can find it here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2009/03/06/ST2009030602446.html?sid=ST2009030602446

To me, the article is more about making sure this doesn't happen to Joe and Jane Public than it is about deciding if we should prosecute parents. This happened in our community a few years ago. I reacted like a lot of other people do, wondering how it could be possible. The moment JB was born I gained a different perspective. Terrible things happen to people regardless of race, religion, education, income level or geography. The best plan of action for me is to be aware, and to do my absolute best to prevent those things from happening to me.

In a very small (and thankfully insignificant way) I experienced this type of lapse in memory just the other day. I was driving with JB in the car, on our way home for the day. She was so quiet in her seat that for a few seconds I forgot she was in the car. Not in a "sort of aware in the back of my mind she was there" way, but in a much scarier "I didn't even realize that I forgot she was in the car" sort of way. Until she gleefully held her favorite mouse out and proclaimed "MINNIIIEEEE!", I didn't even realize that I had forgotten she was with me. And that folks, scared the bejeezus out of me.

I honestly don't believe that I would have left her in the car. We were on our way home, and I pick her up every night, so it's a solid routine that I get out of my car, unbuckle her and help her into the house where I get to hear her squeal with delight to see "Daaaaheeeee!" But my god. What if it had been on the way to work? I never take her in the morning, so I wouldn't even have a routine to rely on.

At any rate, here are some recommendations from kidsandcars.org: (pulled from the question and answer chat with the author after the article)

KidsAndCars.org offers these reminders that don't cost a penny and can certainly help to prevent these tragedies. If you employ the first three (all at the same time) your child should never be inadvertently left behind.
*** Put something you'll need like your cell phone, handbag, your employee badge, lunch or brief case, etc., on the floor board in the back seat. Get in the habit of always opening the back door of your vehicle every time you reach your destination to make sure no child has been left behind. This way it will become a habit. KidsAndCars.org calls this theLook before you lock campaign
***Keep a large teddy bear in the child's car seat when it‘s not occupied. When the child is placed in the seat, put the teddy bear up front in the passenger seat. It's a visual reminder that anytime the teddy bear is up front you know the child is in the back seat in a child safety seat.
***Make arrangements with your childs day care provider or babysitter that you will always call them if your child will not be there on a particular day as scheduled. Ask them to phone you if your child does not show up when expected. Many childrens lives could have been saved with the telephone call from a concerned child care provider. Give child care providers all your telephone numbers, including that of an extra family member or friend, so they can always confirm the whereabouts of your child.
***If you see a child alone in a vehicle, get involved. If they are hot or seem sick, get them out as quickly as possible. Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.