CCMobility 300x250

Tips to keep kids safe from hot car deaths

by | Jun 6, 2019 | Life & Style

Fifty-two children died in hot cars nationwide in 2018 of pediatric vehicular heatstroke — more than any other year on record in the past 20 years. Experts say that these tragic deaths are entirely preventable.

“Even one child dying in a hot car is too many,” says Amy Artuso, senior program manager of advocacy at the National Safety Council (NSC), a nonprofit organization whose mission is to eliminate preventable deaths at work, in homes, in communities and on the road. “The good news is that parents and caregivers can act immediately to end these preventable deaths.”

June is National Safety Month and an excellent opportunity to review the facts and learn more about keeping kids safe.

Understanding the Causes

According to NSC and noheatstroke.org, there are three primary circumstances resulting in deaths of children in hot cars. Knowing what they are can help you avoid them.

  1. A caregiver forgetting a child in a vehicle: Leaving a child behind in a parked vehicle is an often-overlooked consequence of distracted driving. NSC advises parents and caregivers to avoid distractions — such as cell phone use — when driving and parking, in order to reduce the risk of forgetting a child in the car. A routine that helps you remember to check for your child in the backseat can help, too. Place a purse, briefcase or even a left shoe in the backseat to force you to take one last look before walking away.
  2. The child gaining access to the vehicle: Keep car doors locked so children cannot gain access, and teach them that cars are not play areas. Children should never be able to access a vehicle on their own.
  3. Someone knowingly leaving a child in the vehicle: There is no safe amount of time to leave a child in a vehicle, even if you are just running a quick errand. Even on mild or cloudy days, temperatures inside vehicles can reach life-threatening levels. Leaving windows slightly open doesn’t help. Children should never be left unattended in a vehicle.

Educate Yourself

Acquaint yourself and anyone who cares for your child with free resources providing vital information about vehicular heatstroke. For example, NSC recently released “Children in Hot Cars,” an online training course providing information about why cars heat up so quickly, why children in particular can succumb to increasing temperatures in cars, and what parents, caregivers and others can do to prevent these needless deaths. The course is interactive, free and can be completed in 15 minutes or less, with a certificate of completion available at the end. It can be found at nsc.org/hotcars. For more information about pediatric vehicular heatstroke, visit noheatstroke.org.

Hot car deaths have claimed the lives of children in almost all states in the U.S. However, these deaths are preventable. Learn more about the causes to help keep your family and loved ones safe.

 

Source: StatePoint

Collin College Farmersville Fall Registration 2023 250x300

0 Comments

Related News

Local nonprofit supports those embracing grief

Local nonprofit supports those embracing grief

To purchase books, read grief-related articles, donate or signup for a class visit bravepenny.org Grief is a complicated and personal process that has no timeline. And for survivors of any type of loss, it can often be difficult to navigate without the proper positive...

read more
Angel Tree Program needs your help

Angel Tree Program needs your help

The Farmersville Outreach Alliance Angel Tree Program is amid its busy season signing up, and then collecting gifts for the children in need. Organizer Judy Brandon said they have 177 Angels signed up and volunteers won’t rest until all the Angels are adopted. “We are...

read more
Quilts of Valor presented to area veterans

Quilts of Valor presented to area veterans

Following a two-year hiatus because of the pandemic, two Farmersville Army veterans, along with veterans from four other communities, were thanked for their service with the gift of handmade quilts last week. Quilts of Valor were draped over the six veterans by...

read more
Local talent takes center stage

Local talent takes center stage

Amid a global pandemic, as the world faced fears, frustration, and more than a little bit of boredom, Gwen Snyder thought it would be a good idea to start a theater company. “The arts give you an opportunity outside of your paying job to laugh, to cry, and have a...

read more
Leaderboard American Heart Association