By Dr. Aila Co Whiteside, General Booth Pediatrics
During hot summer months, it’s important to know that leaving a child alone in a car, even for a short time, can have deadly consequences. Every year, dozens of children in the U.S. die from heatstroke after being left or becoming trapped in a car.
Cars Become Dangerously Hot
The inside of a car can heat up by 20 degrees Fahrenheit in just 10 minutes. Cracking a window, parking in the shade, or running the air conditioner does little to prevent this. A child’s body heats up three to five times faster than an adult’s. At 107 degrees, heatstroke can be fatal.
Help prevent heat-related deaths with these safety tips:
- A sleeping baby or toddler might not make any noise to remind you they’re still in the back seat. Always check the rear seats of your car before leaving. An easy way to remember this is to leave something you need in the back seat, such as a bag or phone, so you have to look before getting out of the car.
- Always lock unattended cars to prevent children from climbing inside and becoming trapped. Keep keys and remote openers out of reach of children.
- Never leave a child alone in a car, not even for a moment. Use drive-up services for errands whenever possible.
- Teach young children how to honk the horn if they become trapped inside a car. This can alert you or people nearby if they’re stuck.
- Tell your child’s care provider or school to contact you immediately if your child does not show up as planned.
- If you see a child alone in a vehicle, call 911 immediately. If the child appears hot or unresponsive, take urgent action to remove them from the car.
Vehicular heatstroke can happen to anyone at any time. When the sun is shining, even if the outside temperature is as low as 57 degrees, the inside of a car can heat up very quickly.
Look before you lock. Your child's life depends on it.
