On hot summer days, parents sometimes make the dangerous decision to leave their babies in cars while they run errands. This act can quickly lead to heatstroke, fainting, or even death. To avoid such situations, police officers are often vigilant, keeping an eye on parking lots, particularly during scorching weather. But one officer’s quick thinking led him to make an unusual mistake.
The Call to Action
In Keene, New Hampshire, Officer Jason Short was on duty when he received a call about a baby left in a car alone on a very hot day. Like any responsible officer, Jason rushed to the scene immediately, his heart racing with the thought of a helpless infant in danger.
“I got there as soon as I could,” Jason said. “I don’t know how fast I was going, but it was quick.”
Upon arriving at the scene, he saw what appeared to be a baby wrapped in a blanket, with only its feet visible through the car window. Jason could not know how long the baby had been trapped in the car, but given the intense heat, he acted quickly.
The Decision to Break the Window
Without hesitation, Jason broke the car window with his baton to rescue the child. As he gently pulled the baby out, he was worried that it might already be too late. The baby looked lifeless and pale, with a strange skin tone. As a crowd began to gather, Jason started performing CPR on the baby, his mind racing as he feared the worst.
The ambulance was called immediately, but something didn’t feel right.
The Big Realization
As Jason continued to work to revive the baby, he began to notice something strange. The baby’s features seemed a bit off. That’s when it dawned on him. The “baby” was not a real child at all, but a lifelike doll.
The doll’s owner, Carolynne Seiffer, soon returned from her shopping trip to find a broken car window and a crowd surrounding her USD $2,000 doll, which she calls Ainsley.
“I’ve been laughed at and embarrassed by all the fuss,” Carolynne told WMUR, speaking of the surprising mix-up.
The Healing Power of Dolls
Carolynne is a collector of lifelike dolls, owning about 40 of them. She explained that the dolls helped her cope with the grief of losing her son. For some parents, these realistic dolls can be a source of comfort, a way to heal from the painful loss of a child.
“You can’t know how people choose to deal with their losses in life,” Carolynne said. “This is just my way of coping.”
Though the situation was uncomfortable for both Carolynne and Jason, the officer expressed relief that the “baby” was not real. He admitted that while he felt a bit embarrassed, he would have made the same decision again. “I would never assume that it’s a doll,” he said. “I would always assume that it’s a child.”
The Resolution
The Keene Police Department took responsibility for the broken window, paying the $300 repair fee for Carolynne’s car. While the situation was odd, the most important thing is that no one was hurt.
What to Learn From This Incident
This unusual incident serves as a reminder of the importance of staying vigilant in hot weather and the importance of taking care when interacting with sensitive situations. The Keene Police Department suggests that those who own lifelike dolls like Carolynne’s keep them in their cars’ trunks or carry them with them to avoid similar misunderstandings in the future.
While this situation was rare, it also highlights how kindness, quick thinking, and responsibility are critical in protecting the well-being of others, even when things don’t go as planned.
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