Listen to the podcast: Protecting Children from Heat in Cars
Written by: Donna Davis
Reviewed by: Suzanna Smith
Every year it seems we hear another story about a child being left in a car, almost always by mistake, only to suffer or die of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. During the summer of 2003, ten children in Texas suffered such a fate, the highest fatality rate from this cause for any state.
While many of these children were the victims of a forgetful caregiver, others were left for “only a moment” by a caregiver who didn’t realize that even a matter of minutes for a quick errand could result in tragedy. Even at only 75 degrees outside, a car can reach 100 degrees in a matter of ten minutes.
How can these tragedies be prevented? According to the Child Abuse Prevention Project, when away from home, NEVER leave a child unattended in a car (even if the windows are down and it’s shaded or your baby is sleeping… even for just a minute). In addition, there are a number of steps you should consider to keep your children safe when they’re at home. For example, don’t leave your car keys where children can get them – they may be tempted to play in the car. Keep your car doors and trunks locked at all times, even in the driveway or garage. Also, keep rear fold-down seats closed so kids can’t get in the trunk from inside the car, and consider having a trunk release mechanism available from inside the trunk. Finally, if your child does get locked inside a car, call 911 immediately if you’re not able to get them out yourself.
A few simple steps can protect your family from tragedy!
