It is a preventable tragedy. Of course, those are empty words if you or a loved one leaves their child in the car, even during the most temperate day, only to live out a nightmare. Last year, we all read the seemingly endless news stories about babies and small children passing away after being accidentally left in a vehicle. Even a few minutes is enough time for temperatures inside a vehicle to climb to lethal levels.
It’s not just kids being left in vehicles by their caregivers. We all know that youngsters are natural explorers and like to pretend. A vehicle provides a wealth of possibilities for fertile minds, but self-locking doors and trunk lids accidentally closed can quickly turn playtime into a nightmare.
Here are some startling facts from Kids and Cars (www.kidsandcars.org):
– The inside of a vehicle heats up VERY quickly! Even with the windows cracked, the temperature inside a car can reach 125 degrees in minutes.
– Cracking the windows does not help slow the heating process OR decrease the maximum temperature
– 80% of the increase in temperature happens in the first 10 minutes
– A child’s body overheats 3-5 times faster than an adult body.
– Rear-facing car seats look the same whether there is a baby in it or not.
– Children, especially babies, often fall asleep in their rear-facing child safety seats and become quiet, unobtrusive little passengers.
Now for some safety tips:
– Never leave children alone in or around cars; not even for a minute.
– Keep a large stuffed animal in the child’s car seat. When the child is placed in the car seat, put the stuffed animal in the front passenger seat. It’s a visual reminder that the child is in the back seat.
– Make sure you have a strict policy in place with your childcare provider about daycare drop-off. Everyone involved in the care of your child should always be aware of their whereabouts.
– Keep vehicles locked at all times, even in driveways or garages. Ask home visitors, child care providers and neighbors to do the same.
– If a child goes missing, immediately check the inside passenger compartments and trunks of all vehicles in the area very carefully, even if they are locked. A child may lock the car doors after entering a vehicle on their own, but may not be able to unlock them.
– If you see a child alone in a vehicle, get involved. Call 911 immediately. If the child seems hot or sick, get them out of the vehicle as quickly as possible.
The best way to make sure you won’t have to live through something like this is stop thinking it couldn’t happen to you. Pay attention to these suggestions, because it could.