Mom Receives New Car Seats From OKC Police, EMSA, Walmart

An Oklahoma City mother is overwhelmed by the generosity of Walmart, Emergency Medical Services Authority paramedics and Oklahoma City police.

They all helped get her new car seats for her four kids for free, but the police had to be called on her first.

Heather Brown said she was dropping off a job application at the Ross store near Interstate 240 and Pennsylvania Avenue.

She left her sleeping kids inside the car with car on and the air conditioner running.

That is when someone passing by called police.

Brown got a scolding from Oklahoma City police and EMSA after she returned to the car.

“It wasn't like I was intending on just leaving them in the car, it's just that they were asleep,” Brown said.

However, so many things could have gone wrong.

“Anybody could come along and steal her children, the car could die, if car shut off, it could get 150 degrees in the car in a matter of minutes,” EMSA paramedic Jeff Boehler said.

Boehler and Brittney Little, a medic, were both there as Brown became hysterical at the thought of what could have happened.

“It made sense to me, because they had recently had kids die in cars and stuff, that you can't leave them in cars like that,” Brown said.

While Brown got a talking-to, police and EMSA noticed her 2-year-old daughter, 1-year-old daughter and infant son were not restrained properly in their car seats and the car seats were not strapped to the car.

“As parents, we couldn't let her leave,” Boehler said.  “Not just her as a parent, but also us as individuals, as parents, wanted to make sure that her children were safe,” he added.

Boehler called the nearby Walmart and the store generously donated brand new car and booster seats to the family, free of charge.

“At first, I was kind of shocked, but then I was just happy,” Brown told News 9.

Then, police and EMSA spent more time installing the seats properly and teaching her how to do it.

The call lasted nearly 90 minutes for the first responders.

“That way we don't have to respond two miles down the road of that car being wrecked and all those little babies being hurt,” Little said.

Brown said she learned her lesson and, no matter how much hassle it is to get all the kids out of the car next time she needs to run a quick errand, she will do it.

Just since August, EMSA has received 37 calls about kids being left in cars.