Metro Atlanta Kroger Worker Saves Child From Hot Van

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – A Kroger employee is being hailed as a hero after saving a child from a burning car.

“I noticed there was a child inside the car. I thought maybe the parents were inside the car,” Garey Sanford said.

Sanford has worked for Kroger for nearly 30 years. Sunday evening was another day of work, putting away shopping carts at the store on North Decatur Road.

“I noticed the child was very distressed,” Sanford said. “I’m checking the doors – all the doors were locked.”

Sanford called for help. According to a DeKalb County police report, a Kroger shopper used a hammer to break the window of the van to get the distressed toddler out.

“It was 93 degrees outside, but checking the temperature inside the car, it was 127 degrees inside the car,” Sanford said. “I don’t think in the next 15 minutes… that kid wouldn’t have made it.”

Not all kids have heroes like Sanford.

“Last year, 29 children died from vehicular-induced pediatric heat stroke in the United States, including a 14-month-old girl in Newton County, Georgia,” said Commissioner Amy Jacobs of the Department. of Georgia Early Care and Learning.

That’s why the department launched the “Look Again” campaign: to remind parents and guardians to always check the back seat.

“I’m happy to say the number of incidents is going down, but leaving even one child unattended in a vehicle is one child too many,” Jacobs said.

According to the police report, in this week’s situation, the parents told officers their daughter was sleeping and they were only gone for about 20 minutes.

“Every life is very precious and you should never leave any life in a car. Even a plant. With this type of heat? No,” Sanford said.

The little girl’s parents were cited for creating a dangerous situation. They said no to an interview.

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