Parents and caregivers most often leave children in hot cars due to a change in routine or a quick errand that turns out to be longer than anticipated. Because of all the publicity and increase in children being left in sweltering cars, I was inspired to write this article. To learn more, I reached out to Helen Arbogast, MPH, CHES, manager of the Injury Prevention Program at CHLA.
Did you know there is no safe amount of time to leave any child in a car alone? Every 10 days in the U.S., a child dies when left alone in the car. The temperature in a car rises rapidly in the first 30 minutes, even on a cool day. Leaving the car windows open does not allow enough air into the vehicle. Other reasons why leaving children in a hot car is dangerous include:
- The child is tightly strapped into the seat, not allowing free movement.
- It takes only a body temperature of 104 degrees Fahrenheit for heat stroke to occur. 107 degrees is usually fatal.
- A child’s body warms up three to five times faster than an adult’s body.
Signs Of Overheating
If a child is overheating, they will have some or all of these symptoms:
- Agitation
- Disorientation
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Rapid breathing
- Seizure
- Unconsciousness
- Vomiting
How To Remember There Is a Child In the Back Seat
Look before you lock and ACT! Always check for children in the car before locking. At CHLA, we want everyone to ACT:
A: Avoid heatstroke-related injury and death by never leaving your child alone in a car, not even for a minute. And make sure to keep your car locked when you’re not in it, so kids don’t get in on their own.
C: Create reminders by putting something – such as a briefcase, a purse or cell phone you will need at your final destination – in the back seat of your car next to your child. This is especially important if you’re not following your normal routine.
T: Take action. If you see a child alone in a car, call 911. Emergency personnel want you to call. They are trained to respond to these situations. One call could save a life.
Being responsible might not always be convenient or as speedy, but it is worth slowing down and assessing the odds before making a decision that might be irresponsible.
For more information on the hazards of leaving children in a hot car, visit WeTreatKidsBetter.org.