[kcrazorbackfan]

Originally Posted by bonsai golfer

we should be very careful about making assumptions about these tragic cases. We don't know all the details.

With regard to those who think this could never happen to them or that these are horrible parents, think again.

Research into the operation of the human brain has shown that there are two kinds of memory, prospective and retrospective. These memories operate in different parts of the brain and retrospective memory (memory for past events) can interfere with prospective memory (memory for something we intend to do). Every one of us has experienced the situation where we were going to do something and then completely forgot about it. Often this happens when we get locked into a routine and what we intend to do is not part of this routine. As a trivial example, we intend to pick up milk on our way home from golf but we end up driving right past the store and don't remember what we were going to do until we get home. All of us have done something like this and on occasion it has been in very serious situation (missed doctor's appointment, missed medications, etc.)

before anyone says, "children are different," it turns out the research shows (unfortunately) they aren't. The brain operates the way it operates and sometimes it leads to tragic consequences.

Now, this is not to say this is what happened in these situations. That is something that should be investigated. My only point is that we should be very careful about condemning people when we don't know all the facts.

there is no excuse for leaving a child or a pet in a hot vehicle!!! Period!!!!