Never leave your child alone in a hot car
Now that summer is in full swing and temperatures are frequently above 90 degrees, Children's Hospital Colorado and Safe Kids Denver Metro remind parents of the importance of never leaving their child alone in a car. Studies have shown that even with a relatively cool outside temperature of 70 degrees, the inside of a car can rise to temperatures hot enough to kill or seriously injure children in just 15 minutes.
Leaving a child in a vehicle for a “quick” errand is a huge mistake. Unfortunately, a delay of just a few minutes on a warm day can lead to tragedy.
Heat is much more dangerous to children than it is to adults. When left in a hot vehicle, a young child's core body temperature may increase three to five times faster than that of an adult. This could cause permanent injury or even death.
Between 1998 and 2007, 361 children died from heat stroke after being trapped in a car. While 20 percent of these fatalities occurred when parents or caregivers intentionally left their child in the car, the majority (50 percent) of heat stroke deaths occurred when parents or caregivers forgot their child in the car.
Tips to prevent a tragedy
'Look before you leave'
These tragedies can be prevented by coming up with a “look before you leave” routine before you leave your car:
- Keep a stuffed animal in the car seat and when the child is in the seat, place the animal in the front with the driver.
- Place your purse or briefcase in the back seat as a reminder that your child is in the car.
- Be sure that all occupants leave the vehicle when unloading, don’t overlook sleeping babies.
- Have a plan that your childcare provider will call you if your child does not show up on a day they are scheduled.
Never leave your child unattended in a vehicle, even for a quick errand. One short delay can be enough to cause serious injury or death to a child. To ensure a child is never left alone, parents and caregivers should:
- Plan ahead to use drive-through services whenever possible (pharmacies, banks, dry cleaners, restaurants, even dog grooming)
- Schedule pick-up and drop-off services to the vehicle
- Plan extra time into your routine to bring all children inside the store or business
- If possible, leave children at home with a responsible adult while running errands
Accidental entrapment
Sadly, another 30 percent of these heat-related deaths occurred when children left playing unattended around a car accidentally were trapped inside. These accidents can also be prevented by following these tips:
- Teach older children never to play in or around cars and how to unlock doors if they get unintentionally locked in a vehicle.
- Keep doors and trunks locked, especially at home, with the keys kept away from a little kid’s reach.
- Check to see if your vehicle has a interior trunk release or ask your car dealer about getting your car retrofitted with one and ensure children are familiar with how to use it.
If you ever find your child or another child locked in a car, call 911 immediately. Get the child out as quickly as possible and break a window as necessary to allow air into the car.
For more information
- View a YouTube video to learn more about the dangers of leaving your child alone in a car.
- For more information about heat stroke, safety in and around cars, or general tips about keeping you child safe, contact Safe Kids Denver Metro at (720) 777-8412 or visit www.usa.safekids.org. Safe Kids Denver Metro works to prevent accidental childhood injury, the leading cause of death in children under age 14.
