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Photo: Jernej Furman · Source · CC BY 2.0
A breakdown with children or pets requires a plan for the people and animals as well as the car. Tell dispatch about everyone traveling with you at the beginning of the call. Moving the disabled vehicle does not automatically provide appropriate passenger transportation.
Identify any immediate danger
If a child is trapped or alone in a hot vehicle, call 911 and get help immediately. NHTSA emphasizes the danger of leaving children in vehicles and the need for prompt action. Do not wait for an ordinary service appointment when someone is at risk. NHTSA child-safety guidance.
For other breakdown situations, follow emergency responders' directions and choose a safe waiting arrangement based on the surroundings. Keep children and pets away from the roadway and the loading work area. Do not assume a shaded or parked vehicle is an appropriate unattended waiting place.
Arrange a suitable ride
Ask about passenger capacity rather than assuming the tow truck can carry your group. A family pickup, suitable taxi, or another transportation arrangement may be needed. Any child restraints and accessibility needs must be addressed for the vehicle that will actually carry the passengers.
Keep necessary items available
If it is safe to retrieve them, take medication, water, a phone, chargers, and essentials for the child or pet. Tell the operator if an item cannot be accessed safely. Do not interrupt loading or re-enter the vehicle without coordination.
For help in Bound Brook, New Jersey, explain both the vehicle problem and your passenger needs to Chain Gang. The practical goal is a confirmed transport plan for everyone, without leaving important needs to be discovered after the tow truck arrives.