Phuong Nga, from Hai Phong, was driving her VinFast VF 3 with her two young children on 4/7. After stopping the car, she exited first to take one small child out, while her two-year-old son remained in his child seat inside the vehicle.

The moment the adults left the car, the boy playfully pressed the power-off button. Subsequently, the car doors locked, trapping the two-year-old inside the cabin. The family immediately called a locksmith for assistance, while continuously reassuring the boy and guiding him to unlock the door from the inside. However, being only two years old, the boy could not perform the correct actions, becoming increasingly frightened and crying.

Concerned about the impact of the weather and the emotional distress on their child, the husband decided to use a hammer to break the car window to get the boy out. Nga stated that flying glass caused minor scratches on the boy's hand.

At the time of the incident, both car keys were inside the cabin. The spare key was attached to the same keyring as the main key, preventing the family from using a backup key to open the door from outside. This forced them to choose smashing the window as the only option to rescue the child.

The VF 3 model does not have a physical power on/off button. According to the owner's manual, after stopping the car and engaging the parking brake, the driver should remove the smart key, exit the vehicle, and then press the lock button on the key. This action locks the doors and completely shuts down the car's electrical system. Since the two-year-old pressed the lock/power-off button while still inside the car, the family could not open the doors from the outside.

Preventing children from getting trapped in cars

The broken car window after the father smashed it to rescue his two-year-old son trapped inside the cabin. Photo: Phuong Nga

This incident highlights the importance of developing safe car usage habits. Parents should not leave children alone in a car, even for a short time, as children might accidentally operate controls or face danger if the cabin temperature rises.

Car owners should always carry their keys when exiting the vehicle, avoiding leaving all keys inside the cabin as in this case. Before locking the doors, thoroughly check inside the car to ensure no small children remain. Additionally, car owners should understand their vehicle's locking and unlocking mechanisms and safety features to know how to handle emergency situations.

Finally, car owners also need to know how to react if they must break a window to rescue someone in an emergency. Prioritize breaking a side window over the windshield, as windshields are laminated glass, which is more difficult to break. If using a specialized glass-breaking tool, rescuers should strike near a corner of the glass for better effectiveness. However, this should only be a last resort when no other method can get someone out.

For children who are aware and can follow adult instructions, it is essential to teach them basic car safety skills. Parents should train their children to recognize the central lock/unlock button, the door handle, and how to open the door from the inside.

Children should be instructed to practice opening the door multiple times to remember, rather than waiting until an incident occurs to guide them from outside. Parents can start teaching children door-opening procedures when they are two years old or older, and always tell them to only open the door when permitted, or when no one is available to assist.

Pham Hai