Parents, please don't forget: Your kid may be in the car
June 15, 2011
It happens every summer. Every time it happens people ask "how?"
Thankfully no one has left his child in a hot car in the area yet this summer, but it's bound to happen at some point, especially with the scorching heat already beating down on us.
It seems to happen more and more as families get busier and busier. Last year, 49 children died of heat stroke in hot cars in the United States. As of May 31, eight kids have already died in hot cars in the United States this year. More than 500 children have died in hot cars since 1998.
Every time a child dies in a hot car, people are ready to crucify the parent who left that child in there to suffer an unimaginably horrible and painful death.
Sometimes, the public outrage is justified. Mom went into a beauty salon for a haircut and pedicure and didn't want to bring the sleeping baby inside so the baby stays in the hot car while Mom runs her errand.
Other times, a change in routine leads to a child being forgotten because he was sleeping peacefully in a carseat while Dad went to work as part of his daily routine, completely forgetting to drop off the baby at a baby sitter's house. The public outrage is not quite as justified in those cases, but it's still there, ready to hang the responsible parent.
The parent is already facing the worst nightmare a parent can ever imagine: being the cause of his own child's death. Our society is busy, often overbusy, overworked, under-rested and overstressed. It's certainly not an excuse. But it's a situation with which many can identify.
So when you get out of your car at work, at the store or whereever else your daily journey takes you, please "look before you lock" to ensure no child is left behind.
Here are child/car safety tips from KidsAndCars.org
• Never leave children alone in or around cars; not even for a minute.
• Put something you'll need like your cell phone, handbag, employee ID or brief case, etc., on the floor board in the back seat.
• Get in the habit of always opening the back door of your vehicle every time you reach your destination to make sure no child has been left behind. This will soon become a habit. We call this the “Look Before You Lock” campaign.
• Keep a large stuffed animal in the child's car seat when it’s not occupied. When the child is placed in the seat, put the stuffed animal in the front passenger seat. It's a visual reminder that anytime the stuffed animal is up front you know the child is in the back seat in a child safety seat.
• Make arrangements with your child’s day care center or babysitter that you will always call if your child will not be there on a particular day as scheduled. This is common courtesy and sets a good example that everyone who is involved in the care of your child is informed of their whereabouts on a daily basis. Ask them to phone you if your child doesn't show up when expected. Many children’s lives could have been saved with a telephone call from a concerned child care provider. Give child care providers all your telephone numbers, including that of an extra family member or friend, so they can always confirm the whereabouts of your child.
• Keep vehicles locked at all times; even in the garage or driveway and always set your parking brake.
• Keys and/or remote openers should never be left within reach of children.
• Make sure all child passengers have left the vehicle after it is parked.
• When a child is missing, check vehicles and car trunks immediately.
• If you see a child alone in a vehicle, get involved. If they are hot or seem sick, get them out as quickly as possible. Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.
• Be especially careful about keeping children safe in and around cars during busy times, schedule changes and periods of crisis or holidays.
• Use drive-thru services when available. (restaurants, banks, pharmacies, dry cleaners, etc.)
• Use your debit or credit card to pay for gas at the pump.
• For additional information about ways to keep children safe in and around vehicles, visit our website at www.KidsAndCars.org
