Man Dies in Hot Van while Caregiver Napped

First, let me say that the victim involved in this incident had Down Syndrome. It’s not that I am saying Down Syndrome and Autism are equivalent. But I look on this as an important wake-up call for all caregivers out there, who are handling clients with challenges.

Caregivers need to take their power of life-or-death immensely seriously. They have to be wholly engaged every minute. That’s true whether the person in question has Down Syndrome, Autism, is an infant, is a senior, has lost limb mobility, or whatever the situation is.

Every moment matters. Minor lapses can lead to heart-rending results.

This caregiver didn’t mean to kill the person he cared for. He was traumatized when he realized what had happened. But it never SHOULD have happened.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/23/us/man-down-syndrome-death-van-caretaker-nap-trnd/index.html