Be Safe

Hot cars kill kids-avert tragedy now!

Overview:
Each summer we hear about children left alone in hot cars and the dire consequences that result. In less than 15 minutes temperatures in cars can reach 170 degrees Fahrenheit in direct sunlight. Children’s body temperatures rise 3 to 5 times faster than an adult’s and children’s bodies cannot dissipate heat as efficiently as adults.

What you need to know:

• Never leave kids in or around cars unsupervised.
• Common characteristics of vehicles in which kids have been left: The vehicle was large (like truck, van or SUV), had tinted windows (hard to see kids inside), had doors or trunks low to ground (easy for kid to get inside unnoticed).
• How kids get into cars: Kids playing in or around cars and got trapped; adults intentionally left kids while running and errand; adults forgot child was in car (Driving the child is not part of the person’s normal routine or the driver is unaccustomed to having a child in the car at that time of day); adult had a medical emergency (heart attack).
• If you are driving a child, place a teddy bear on the front seat or put your purse or wallet next to child to remind you that the child is in the car.
• If you see a child unattended in a car get help immediately - Call 911.