If it can happen to Carrie Underwood, it can happen to you! :)
Kids in hot cars are a deadly combination. Whether intentional or accidental, these deaths are preventable, which makes it all the more tragic. Here are some helpful tips to make sure it doesn’t happen to you.
*Never leave a child alone in a parked car, even with the windows rolled down, or air conditioning on. Children’s body temperature can heat up 3 to 5 times faster than adults. A core temperature of 107 is lethal.
*Always look in both the front and back of the vehicle before locking the door
*Heatstroke can occur in temperatures as low as 57 degrees. On an 80-degree day, temperatures inside a vehicle can reach deadly levels in just 10 minutes.
*Never let children play in an unattended vehicle. Teach them a vehicle is not a play area.
*Always lock your vehicle doors and trunk and keep the keys out of a child’s reach. If a child is missing, quickly check all vehicles, including the trunk.
Is dropping a child off not part of your normal routine? Come up with some ways to remind yourself that the child is in the car.
*Place an item that you keep on you, like a briefcase or purse, in the back seat next to the car seat, so that you’ll always check the back seat before you leave the car.
*Call your spouse after you drop the child off to make sure you didn’t forget.
*Have daycare call you if your child doesn’t show up.
*Write a note and place it on the dashboard of the car. Or set a reminder on your cell phone or calendar. You can also download the Baby Reminder App for iPhones.
If you see a child alone in a hot vehicle:
*Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.
*If they are in distress due to heat, get them out as quickly as possible. Cool the child rapidly, by spraying them with cool water. NEVER use an ice bath.
Remember:
kids in hot cars are a deadly combination.
Don’t take the chance.
Look before you lock.
Additional Resources:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - www.safercar.gov/heatstroke
San Francisco State University,Department of Earth & Climate Studies - www.ggweather.com/heat
Safe Kids - www.safekids.org
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia - www.chop.edu
For more information about our program, please visit www.academychilddevelopment.com
