PSA: Kids in cars

Remember - it is often a change in schedule where one parent/caregiver doesn't normally drop off & does.

My cousin & I were talking about kids in cars & she volunteered that they had something similar happen. They live in FL. She had to be at work early so her DH said he'd take their toddler to daycare. He drove 2 hours to Miami to work. When he parked the car, his 3 year old said "Are we there Daddy?" If she had fallen asleep or not spoke up, he would have never noticed her.


http://www.kidsandcars.org/kidsandcars-org-warns-against-leaving-children-in-hot-vehicles.html

n 2010 a record 49 children died of heat stroke in cars

Leawood, Kan. – June 8, 2011 … With hot summer days ahead, KidsAndCars.org is warning parents and caregivers to take extra precautions to prevent leaving children alone in cars. Through May 31 this year 8 children had already died of heat stroke in vehicles close to the record-setting pace of 2010 when 49 infants and children died.

“It’s a record no one wants to see broken,” says Janette Fennell, founder and president of KidsAndCars.org, a national nonprofit child safety organization working to prevent injuries and deaths of children in and around motor vehicles. Since the group began tracking data and working on the issue in 1998, more than 500 children have died in these preventable tragedies.

A child’s body temperature climbs three to five times faster than an adult’s, especially in a hot car. In less than 30 minutes, the temperature inside a car can increase 35 degrees. An infant can die in as little as 15 minutes even on a mild 75-degree day.

Unfortunately, even the most conscientious parents can overlook a sleeping baby in a car. “The biggest mistake people make is to think ‘It couldn’t happen to me,’” Fennell said. “Memory experts point out that if you’ve ever forgotten a pot left burning on the stove, you’ve seen how easy it is to have a dangerous memory lapse.”

To prevent vehicular heat stroke deaths, KidsAndCars.org recommends learning the following safety tips. You could also tape them to the dashboard.

Back seat – Put something in the back seat so you have to open the door when leaving the vehicle – cell phone, employee badge, handbag, etc.
Every child should be correctly restrained in the back seat.
Stuffed animal – Move it from the car seat to the front seat to remind you when your baby is in the back seat.
Ask your babysitter or child-care provider to call you within 10 minutes if your child hasn’t arrived on time.
Focus on driving – Avoid cell phone calls and texting while driving.
Every time you park your vehicle open the back door to make sure no one has been left behind.

KidsAndCars.org also urges security personnel, parking lot attendants and the public to watch for children alone in a vehicle. Call 911 or the local emergency number immediately. If the child seems hot or sick, they should get them out as quickly as possible.


About KidsAndCars.org: Founded in 1996, KidsAndCars.org is a national nonprofit child safety organization dedicated to preventing injuries and deaths of children in and around motor vehicles. KidsAndCars.org was the first to focus on preventing heat stroke deaths of children being inadvertently left in a vehicle. The organization is also the only one working full-time to educate parents, caregivers and the general public about additional nontraffic vehicle-related dangers to children, including backover and frontover accidents. The organization works to prevent tragedies through data collection, education and public awareness, policy changes and survivor advocacy.

Re: PSA: Kids in cars

Re: PSA: Kids in cars

DS always screamed in the car, I always thought who are these babies that don't scream the entire car ride.
How could you forget them in there, if they are screaming.

Since I turned him FF, he's so quiet, omg I forget he's there, scares me to death, just the thought.

Thank you for the reminder.

Message edited 6/28/2011 2:20:33 PM.

Re: PSA: Kids in cars

So glad you put this up. So many moms believe this will never happen to them. You are right its when the schedule is changed and your are on autopilot.

Re: PSA: Kids in cars

this is part of the reason DH ALWAYS sits in the back with Ben!

Re: PSA: Kids in cars

This is something that is always in the back of my mind, so I always put my work bag and pocketbook in the back so that I have to go into the back to get them and it serves as a reminder.

Re: PSA: Kids in cars

Re: PSA: Kids in cars

Always a great reminder this time of year!

Re: PSA: Kids in cars

So sad but such a needed reminder