Take Steps to Keep Kids from Being Trapped in Hot Cars

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 17, 2012) - The following column appeard in the Lexington Hearld-Leader on Sunday, July 15.

By Dr. Susan Pollack

In Kentucky, one child has died and several children have been rescued from hot cars this summer. Since 1998, more than 500 children nationwide and 15 children in Kentucky have died because of being left in a hot car. Each year, Kentucky State Safe Kids Coalition and Safe Kids Fayette County work to raise awareness on this issue. The message to parents and caregivers is simple: take precautions so this tragedy does not happen to you. <?xml:namespace prefix = owc />

More than half the children who die from heat stroke are forgotten by a caring adult who became distracted when they left the vehicle. Many of these children are forgotten en route to day care, but some were on their way to church or home. About 30 percent of children who die were left unattended and gained entry into an unlocked vehicle .

An additional 17 percent of deaths are caused when caregivers intentionally leave children in the car, sometimes with plans to return promptly, not anticipating how rapidly temperatures can increase inside the vehicle. Most cases of child hyperthermia occur from May through October, with peaks in June, July and August. Even a pleasant, breezy 70-degree day can turn deadly — it takes only 10 minutes for temperatures to rise almost 20 degrees inside a car.

National Safe Kids urges all adults who transport children to take the following steps:

• Call 911 immediately if you see a child unattended in a vehicle.

• Never leave alone in a car — even for a minute — children younger than 8, older children with mental or physical disabilities that might make them unable to get out of a car alone, or elderly adults.

• If you have a church community, set a congregational rule that children cannot be left alone in cars.

• Set your cell phone reminder to be sure you drop your child off at day care.

• If you have a computer at work, set your calendar program to prompt, “Did you drop off at day care today?” as soon as you arrive.

• Place a cell phone, purse, briefcase, gym bag — whatever you intend to carry from the car — on the floor in front of the child in a back seat. This forces the adult to open the back door and observe the child.

• Have a plan with your child-care provider to call if your child does not arrive when expected (see examples at Rayrayspledge.com  for information and examples).

• Keep keys and remote-entry key fobs out of children’s reach.

• Lock all vehicles at all times.

• Check cars and trunks first if a child goes missing.

The risk of injury or death when a child is left alone in a car is far too great to chance it. Take steps to make sure your child isn’t forgotten accidentally in your car or in someone else’s car. And never, ever, leave your child alone in a vehicle.

Dr. Susan H. Pollack, pediatrician at Kentucky Children’s Hospital, is Kentucky State Safe Kids coordinator and director of the Pediatric and Adolescent Injury Prevention Program at the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center.