ALPINE TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A toddler received treatment for heat stroke after police say her grandmother left her inside a hot car while shopping in Walmart.
Kent County Sheriff's Deputy Anthony Ysquierdo feared the worst when he got a call about a toddler left alone in a vehicle in the Walmart parking lot on Alpine Avenue on Saturday.
"I could see a child about two years old sitting in the back seat,” Ysquierdo said. “She appeared to be in distress: face was bright red, sweating profusely."
Ysquierdo said he banged on the window to get the little girl’s attention, but when she wouldn’t wake up, he took action. "I walked over to the other side of the vehicle and smashed out the passenger's side window,” Ysquierdo said, “took the girl out of the seat and did what we were trained to do for heat stroke victims."
Ysquierdo gave the toddler some cool water to drink. She is expected to make a full recovery.
Temperatures inside cars can quickly become deadly in warm weather, and authorities say small children are more sensitive to heat.
"They're strapped into a child seat; they don't have any way to exit a vehicle, so there's nothing they can do to prevent overheating," said Sgt. Deanna Lude, with the Kent County Sheriff’s Department.
Deputies found the little girl’s grandmother shopping inside the Walmart. They are not releasing her name at this time but have sent the case to Child Protective Services and are requesting that charges be filed.
