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Forget the cold or coat, ask where the parent or guardian is. If none are present, pick up that smartphone everyone seems to have a look up the local service for child welfare and call them. Yes, offer a coat if you have one but that is secondary.
So often people rush to treat or deal with a symptom and not the cause. What good does a coat do for a child sitting in a snowy environment if they have no place to go, were abandoned or worse? First ascertain that there is no continuing danger, then determine the why and then if all is well, deal with the smaller issue.
Very rarely is something as it seems. In this case, once the adult called some agency I bet the child would have volunteered some interesting information of the handlers would have come forward to explain the study. In that case, no coat offer would be needed since it was a staged situation.
I actually always keep an old sweatshirt and a blanket in my trunk in the winter months in the event that something happens to my car while on the road. I'd give both of them to the kid but would NOT let him come in and sit and warm up. That could give the wrong idea to passers-by as well as the bus driver when the bus came.
It's unfortunate that you or anyone else feels the need to think that way.
I would call the police expressing my concern and ask them to send a car over, then I would tell them I'm in a (whatever I'm driving) and I'm going to give the kid a blanket I keep in my vehicle.
Then I would offer the kid the blanket and some Elk jerky. I always have Elk jerky.
I actually always keep an old sweatshirt and a blanket in my trunk in the winter months in the event that something happens to my car while on the road. I'd give both of them to the kid but would NOT let him come in and sit and warm up. That could give the wrong idea to passers-by as well as the bus driver when the bus came.
I don't believe I would even offer the kid anything. I might call the police. Unfortunately in today's world I would not approach a child who I did not know WELL.
I honestly don't know if I'd say anything. The weather here has been in the 60s and occasionally 70s so if I saw anyone shivering I'd assume they were on drugs.
Depending on the age of the child, I'd think they were playing a trick to get suckers to stop so they could steal their wallet or cell phone... :/
I promise I'm not a horrible person, I'm just jaded...
Sadly, I would wonder if it was kind of a scam as well. The kid didn't look destitute. Maybe he was running away...or just stupid. I'd ask if they were okay and let a cop know.
Maybe they could have sent the money used for making that video to the hungry kids in Syria instead...or the hungry kids in that country (Denmark?).
I saw the video a few days ago and found the adults reactions heartwarming. I wondered what would happen in this country in the same situation. I guess we know now. The Norwegians are a much more civil, compassionate people.
I have a few extra things in my car...in case I ran off the road in the snow...
I'd grab something and run out and put it over his shoulders with a hug and
typical arm rub...just like I put leashes on loose doggies and bring 'em home to
find their owners...so far so good!
Location: Huntersville/Charlotte, NC and Washington, DC
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I honestly would not do anything. I'd be very lerry and would be very worried about being set up for a crime like carjacking. There have been crimes that have the good samaratian setup in my neck of the woods. I'd rather be a selfish alive a-hole than potentially be a dead good samaratian.
Or, it could easily be a child who refused to wear a coat despite his mother's warning that it was cold out.
Yep -- you had kids!
That would be my same response. Anyone who has ever had a kid in middle school knows that once they think it's uncool to be seen in a warm jacket, you would have to wrestle him down to put a jacket, scarf, mittens, warm hat on him and he'll just take them all off the minute you're out of sight. I was at a high school football game here where it doesn't get real cold but it was cold enough. Most people with any sense had on winter jackets but not my kid and almost all his friends-- they were wearing t-shirts. All insisted they were plenty warm.
Well -- I remember being the same way. My mom tried to keep us warm but once we got to high school, forget it.
Shivering is perfectly normal and a natural response. Mild hypothermia isn't dangerous, so I'd do nothing. On the other hand, it's very common to remove clothing in more severe cases of hypothermia. If that was the case, I wouldn't particularly care if I gave someone the wrong idea. I'd get the kid/adult inside someplace warm immediately if possible. If not because they refuse I'd call 911 and let them deal with it.
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Unfortunately in today's world I would not approach a child who I did not know WELL.
