A recent heat wave affecting the East Coast has raised alarms among child advocates regarding the risks of heatstroke in children left in vehicles. According to Kids and Car Safety, nine children have tragically lost their lives in hot cars in states like California, Florida, and North Carolina this year alone, with five deaths occurring in June. Last year, the figure rose to 39 kids, prompting urgent warnings as temperatures tend to rise dangerously in enclosed spaces. Child safety experts emphasize the need for heightened awareness and vigilance, especially during the summer months.
The dangers of leaving children in hot cars are exacerbated by the effects of climate change, which intensifies heat and extreme weather patterns. Even on seemingly mild days, the inside of a car can heat up significantly within minutes. Kathy Wall, director of Safe Kids Palm Beach County, warns that an 80-degree day can escalate beyond 100 degrees inside a vehicle in as little as ten minutes. This phenomenon underscores the deadly potential of leaving a child unattended in a car, as temperatures can exceed 150 degrees Fahrenheit shortly after being left alone.
Another critical aspect of this issue is that hot car deaths can occur at any time of year. Since 1998, nearly every state in the U.S. has reported such incidents. Scientific data reveals that roughly 80% of the temperature increase in vehicles occurs in the first 30 minutes, emphasizing the urgency of preventing these tragedies. Capt. Karen Derogatis points out that children are particularly vulnerable; they sweat less than adults and can overheat three to five times faster, making proactive measures vital in these scenarios.
It’s important to recognize that anyone, regardless of background or profession, can make the mistake of leaving a child in a hot car. Kathy Wall highlights that such incidents have occurred among doctors, teachers, and even childcare workers. The challenge often stems from distractions in daily life. For example, a parent who typically doesn’t drop a child off at daycare may become sidetracked and inadvertently forget their child is in the vehicle. This commonality indicates the need for systemic reminders and strategies to prevent such tragically careless oversights.
Establishing effective reminders can be key in minimizing these risks. Wall advocates creating a routine using the acronym ACT—Avoid, Create, and Take action. Avoiding leaving a child unattended in a car is the first step, followed by creating reminders that work for each individual, such as placing personal items in the backseat. Lastly, immediate action is encouraged if anyone notices a child left in a vehicle—calling 911 should be the first response rather than attempting to gauge how long they’ve been there.
In order to solidify these preventative measures as habits, Derogatis emphasizes the importance of double-checking vehicles. Making it a routine practice to look in the rearview mirror for children or animals can be life-saving. New car technologies further support this initiative by offering alerts to drivers to check the backseat, bolstering awareness. Together, these strategies aim to enhance child safety, ensuring that such heat-related tragedies become a thing of the past. As summer approaches, the call for vigilance in safeguarding the most vulnerable remains urgent.
