This morning I was at a park with my partner and two toddlers. We were getting ready to leave the park, and I noticed a woman from a third-floor balcony nearby was signaling and saying something to my partner. Then, my partner quickly asked me to watch both kids while she walked toward the apartment building, getting out her phone. I couldn’t hear what the woman was saying to her at first, but I thought maybe someone was in trouble and needed an ambulance.
After a few minutes on the phone, my partner returned and said that the woman had stepped out to hang her laundry, and her 1.5 year old child had locked her balcony door. The child was alone, and the woman was locked out without her phone.
My partner had phoned the police, and it took about 15-20 minutes before they arrived. In the meantime, many of the other parents in the park had become aware; we were all waiting for the police and worried about the child. My partner called up periodically for an update, and fortunately the mother could still see the child and nothing had gone wrong (yet…). She mentioned she was worried because her gas range buttons were not locked.
Finally the police showed up, and 5 minutes later two fire trucks. They used the crane to lift a responder up to a different window in the apartment (the woman must have fortunately left one unlocked and told the police), and he entered and unlocked the door for her.
We were all very relieved!
Anyhow, I myself have often stepped out onto my balcony to hang up the laundry (well move it from the inside pole to the outside one) while my children are playing inside; this same thing could have easily happened to me. It is never something that crossed my mind, so I thought it would be good to share.
Be careful everyone!
by irishtwinsons