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It wouldn't seem like you would need to warn people about leaving kids alone in a car, especially during the heat of the summer, but it seems like every week there are new reports of kids dying after being left in a hot car.
According to the latest research from the National SAFE KIDS campaign, at least 25 children die each year after being left in a hot car.
Remember, that on a warm day, the temperature inside a closed vehicle can quickly rise to 120 to 140 degrees, leading to heat stroke and death in young kids.
Why are kids left in hot cars?
Often it is an 'accident', either by a parent or other caregiver.
One recent report in Dallas involved a toddler who died after being left in a van after daycare workers forgot him there after a field trip.
Another case, fortunately with the kids being found before they were injured, involved a mother who left her two kids in a closed car while she went grocery shopping.
Other cases have involved parents who forget to drop their kids off at daycare and leave them in a hot car while they go to work.
And already this year, there are reports of kids being left in hot cars in Utah and California, in addition to the cases in Texas.
So don't leave your kids alone in a car. It sounds simple, but it happens all too often. Even if you are just running into a store or to see a friend for a few minutes, don't leave your kids in the car.
When you get home from shopping or from a trip, get your kids in the house and then worry about unpacking the car. If you leave your kids in the car while you go inside first, it is easy to get distracted and forget they are still in the car. Maybe the phone rings, or the dishwasher is overflowing, or something else happens to distract you.
If your kids are in daycare and they take younger kids on field trips or pick the child up from your home, make sure that they have a good plan to make sure kids aren't left in the car or van. Do they count the kids? Does somebody check the vehicle after everyone is unloaded?
In addition to kids being left in cars, they can also get trapped in a hot car if they get into the car by themselves. Locking your car, especially the trunk, and securing your car keys out of your child's reach can help to prevent these injuries.
What happens to people who leave a child alone in a car on a warm day? Well in addition to possibly losing their child, they are likely to face charges over the incident.
Overall, the Dallas Morning News reports that there have already been 5 heat related deaths in children this year. Hopefully, with more media attention and publicity, there won't be any more.
What if you see a child alone in a hot car? Call 911 and seek immediate medical attention. Don't waste time looking for the parent.
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