Since 1998, more than 900 children have died from vehicular heatstroke - an average of 38 per year - and 53% of incidents involve a parent or caregiver forgetting the child was in the vehicle.
Even on mild or cloudy days, temperatures inside vehicles can reach life-threatening levels. Watch the video below, produced by Safe Kids Worldwide, to see just how fast temperatures rise in a locked vehicle. Even leaving windows slightly open doesn't help. Children should never be left unattended or be able to get inside a vehicle.
How are these preventable accidents happening? There are three primary circumstances resulting in deaths of children in hot cars:
- 53%: A caregiver forgetting a child in a vehicle
- 25%: The child gaining access to the vehicle
- 20%: Someone knowingly leaving a child in the vehicle
The National Safety Council (NSC) offers several tips to parents and caregiver in order to avoid this catastrophe:
- Look Before You Lock: Place a purse, briefcase or even a left shoe in the back seat to force you to take one last look before walking away.
- Stick to a routine and avoid distractions to reduce the risk of forgetting a child.
- Keep car doors locked so children cannot gain access.
- Teach children that cars are not play areas.
Remember: there is no safe amount of time to leave a child in a vehicle, even if you are just running a quick errand.