Keep your kids out of hot cars.
Summer days are upon us. Everyone is gearing up for BBQs, swimming, road trips, and campfires. While planning your epic summer vacation, you must keep hot vehicle safety at the forefront of your mind. This is especially true for those of us with children.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, heat stroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths in children under 15. Hot car deaths happen for many reasons. While some deaths occur when children are accidentally left alone in the car, sometimes a child will wander into a parked vehicle in their driveway. Some children accidentally get locked in a car, while others are left when a parent thinks the weather is moderate enough to leave them for a short period.
Whatever the case, when a child is in a parked car, their lives are in danger. American Academy of Pediatrics outlines some facts about child heatstroke in cars.
- Heat stroke can occur when the body cannot cool itself quickly
- A child’s body heats 3-5 times faster than an adult’s.
- When left in a hot car, a child’s major organs begin to shut down when his temperature reaches 104 degrees F.
- A child can die when his temperature reaches 107 degrees F.
- In 10 minutes, a car can heat 20 degrees F.
- Cracking a window and air conditioning does little to keep the car cool once the vehicle is turned off.
- Hot days can happen year-round. Heat stroke can occur when the outside temperature is as low as 57 degrees F.
It’s easier than you think to forget a child in the backseat. We are all busy and distracted people. When our typical routines change, the risk of forgetting a child increases even more. To help prevent a hot car death, keep the following in mind:
- Check your backseat! Make sure children and animals are not in the car before locking it.
- Decrease your distractions. Don’t use your cell phone while driving.
- If your daily routine changes, be on high alert. Double and triple-check your back seat and check in with a caregiver or babysitter who may be driving your child.
- Have your childcare provider check-in if your child is over 10 minutes late.
- Place essential items like your purse or cell phone in the back seat so you can check the backseat when you arrive at your destination. www.healthychildren.org
Finally, if you see a child alone in a car, call 911 immediately. If you can get the child out, do it! Spray the child with cool water if they are not responsive and wait for help to arrive.
For more information about hot car deaths or vehicle safety, contact Eason & Tambornini today.
