It was a sweltering day in New Hampshire, and Lt. Jason Short of the Keene Police Department was called to the Walmart parking lot for a report of a baby locked inside a hot car. When he arrived on the scene, he found that the car’s windows were rolled up, and the child’s parents or guardians were nowhere to be seen.
Lt. Short broke into the car to rescue what he thought was an abandoned infant, but only after smashing one of the windows did he realize that he had made a huge mistake that he would not be able to fix. He pulled out the infant and noticed that it was not breathing, so he began to administer mouth-to-mouth breaths. However, the infant’s lungs did not inflate as he thought they should.
Rather than an infant, Lieutenant Short discovered a lifelike doll tucked into a real car seat. It was wearing clothes and had been left in the locked car for unknown reasons. Fortunately, no harm was done to the toy, and the owner of the vehicle could easily repair the broken window. But Lt. Short was left feeling quite embarrassed for the mistake.
The Keene Police Department was able to identify the owner of the vehicle and returned the toy unharmed. A spokesperson for the department put out a statement warning parents and guardians that leaving any child, real or lifelike, locked inside of a car can be dangerous. The department also thanked Lt. Short for his quick thinking in a potentially lifesaving situation.
No matter the outcome, Lt. Jason Short of the Keene Police Department will always be remembered as a hero for his brave actions and willingness to put himself in harm’s way for what he thought was a life-or-death emergency. Thankfully, no one was hurt in the incident, and everyone can now look back and laugh about the bizarre rescue.
This is an important reminder that even lifesaving heroes can make mistakes, but it’s how you respond to those mistakes that truly defines you. Lt. Jason Short of Keene Police Department reminded us all that a true hero is someone who never stops trying to help others no matter what the situation.
The Keene Police Department issued a statement thanking Lt. Short for his heroic efforts and reminded people of the dangers of leaving children, real or lifelike, in a hot car. The department also served as an important reminder that heroes can still make mistakes, but it’s how they respond to those mistakes that will define them. Lt. Jason Short is a true hero for never giving up and always striving to keep others safe.
The owner of the doll was a middle-aged woman named Carolynne Seiffert. She was getting her hair cut during the ordeal. Her doll was designed to look as lifelike as possible. Short claimed the doll felt like a real baby when he first picked it up.
Seiffert will now put a sticker on her car to protect her property from zealous rescuers.