It happens more than you might think.
A parent, grandparent or caregiver mistakenly leaves a small child strapped into a safety seat in the backseat of a car. Too many times, the mistake is fatal. As a parent you might think that this could never happen to you. You’d be dead wrong.
According to NoHeatStroke.org, 52 children died in a hot vehicle just last year. So far in 2019, 11 children have perished in the same way. More than half of these children were forgotten by a caregiver, while some 34 percent gained access to the vehicle on their own.
Most people know to never leave a child unattended inside of a vehicle for any period of time. Not for even a minute. Some newer vehicles have a weight sensor in the back seat which triggers a dashboard alert telling the driver to check the backseat before leaving.
If you see an unattended child inside of a vehicle, call 911 immediately. Don’t hesitate. You might save a child’s life.
Activists at NoHeatStroke.org offer some additional safety advice about kids and hot cars.
- Make sure all occupants, including pets, are out of the vehicle when unloading. Do not overlook sleeping babies. Educate all caregivers to do the same.
- Always lock your vehicle and make sure keys and remote access devices are out of reach of curious children.
- As with our tips about water safety, if a child is missing check the pool first then the car, including the trunk.
- Practice the “bag in the back” habit. Keep a stuffed animal in the child’s car seat. When the child is put in the seat put the animal in the front seat with the driver. Or put your purse or briefcase in the back seat as a reminder you have a child in the car.
Remember, on an 80 degree day, the temperature inside a closed vehicle can reach 106 in a mere 15 minutes.
A safety message from the employees at Delco Alarm Systems.