Dubai: 2-year-old saved from suffocating in locked car while parents shopped

Dubai Police acted swiftly to save a two-year-old boy who got trapped inside a locked vehicle while his parents were shopping nearby, unaware of the danger he was facing.

Leaving the child unattended resulted in a life-threatening situation as he accidentally locked himself inside and by time, signs of suffocation began to appear on him.

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Upon returning to the parked vehicle, the mother realized what happened and reached out for the emirate's police for help. Special rescue teams from the General Department of Transport and Rescue at Dubai Police handled the incident, managing to extract the child safely.

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Expressing her deep gratitude for the police force's swift response, the mother said that what happened is 'a sobering and painful lesson', calling on other parents to never leave a child alone in a car.

Tailored response

In just four months, Dubai Police handled 92 cases of children who were trapped in cars, elevators, or behind locked doors at home due to negligence or lack of taking the necessary precautions, it said.

Among those, there were 33 kids rescued from locked vehicles, 7 from elevators while 52 were locked inside homes, Colonel Abdullah Ali Bishwah, Head of the Land Rescue Section at the General Department of Transport and Rescue, told Al Khaleej newspaper.

Dubai Police clarified that they tailor their response to such cases according to the child's condition. In non-critical situations, special tools are used to unlock the vehicle without causing any damage, but if the child's life is in danger like if he showed signs of suffocation or unconsciousness, then the police have to break the window to extract him safely and quickly.

Colonel Bishwah added that such incident usually happen in mall parking spaces or at home where children might lock themselves up by mistake.

They may also result from common parental mistakes, such as leaving a child in the car with all doors locked without ensuring another door is open, or relying on smart locking systems without checking their readiness. Technical malfunctions like battery failure or system errors can also cause a vehicle to lock automatically while an unattended child is inside.

Dubai Police issued a reminder of stronger parental responsibility to avoid such risky situations, especially during shopping or leisure outings, stressing the need for constant preventive measures to ensure children’s safety at all times.

On Sunday, Abu Dhabi Police made a similar call, warning motorists, especially those with families, against leaving children alone in the car, especially when the temperatures outside are high.

Yasmin Hussein

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yasminabdel@khaleejtimes.com

Yasmin Hussein is an Assistant Digital Editor who believes that every news story carries a human element. Her motto is 'get it first, but first get it right'.