Every year since 1998, heat stroke or hyperthermia has claimed an average of 37 children when they were left alone in cars. It need not be a very hot day for the car to become too hot for a young child’s body. There is no temperature when it is safe to leave a child alone in a car as their bodies heat up 3-5 times faster than an adult’s. Heat stroke, which can cause permanent brain injury or death, occurs when a child’s core body temperature reaches 107 degrees. Children as old as 13 have been affected.
We urge all parents and caregivers to NEVER LEAVE YOUR CHILD ALONE IN A CAR for any reason or any amount of time. Here are some tips to be sure your child does not get left unknowingly in a vehicle:
- Dial 911 immediately if you see an unattended child in a car. EMS professionals are trained to determine if a child is in trouble.
- Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle, even with the window slightly open.
- Place a cell phone, PDA, purse, briefcase, gym bag or whatever is to be carried from the car on the floor in front of a child in a backseat. This forces the adult to open the back door and observe the child when they reach for their belongings.
- Set your cell phone or Blackberry reminder to be sure you dropped your child off at day care.
- Set your computer “outlook” program to ask, “Did you drop off at daycare today?”
- Have a plan that if your child is late for daycare that you will be called within a few minutes. Be especially careful if you change your routine for dropping off little kids at day care.
- Teach children not to play in any vehicle.
- Lock all vehicle doors and trunk – especially at home. The car is not a playground.
- Check vehicles and trunks FIRST if a child goes missing.
For more information go to www.safekids.org/nlyca .
Filed under: Safe Kids Safety Tips
