Kids OK after romp in hot car
Police say that the toddlers are fine after being dehydrated
Star-Bulletin staff
Four dehydrated toddlers were taken to the hospital yesterday after playing in a parked car for about 30 minutes, police said.
The children's mother was inside a Kewai Place home in Makakilo while the children were playing outside after 3 p.m.
About 30 minutes later, she went to check on them and found them in the car, said Honolulu police Lt. Jeffery Bruchal, of the Waianae District.
He said the interior of the unlocked car was heated from the sun.
The mother called for help because the children did not look well, and they were taken to the hospital for dehydration, Bruchal said.
Honolulu Emergency Services Department spokesman Bryan Cheplic said paramedics took two girls, age 1 and 2, in serious condition and a set of twins, 3, in stable condition to Kapiolani Medical Center for Woman & Children.
Bruchal did not have the twins' gender.
"Officers at the scene reported the children were fine," he said. "There was no emergency."
Bruchal said he did not expect a criminal case to be opened.
"It was just an incident with kids going out to play," he said.
Firefighters also responded after receiving a call for help at about 3:55 p.m., but the toddlers were already out of the car when they arrived, said Honolulu fire Capt. Robert Main.
One fire company helped emergency responders render first aid and left by 4:31 p.m., he said.
Police said the children were released later from the hospital, and the father said they were doing well.