Scorching summer temperatures are bad enough, but U.S. safety officials are warning about how much worse that heat can be for a child left in a vehicle.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Wednesday that at least six kids had died over the previous nine days after being left — or becoming trapped — inside a hot car.
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The inside of a car can easily reach 125 degrees in minutes on a summer day. But temperatures do not have to be scorching hot outside for conditions to become unbearable inside a car, as children have died when outside temperatures were just 60 degrees.
On average, about 37 children in the U.S. die each year in a hot car, and in almost every case, a loving parent unknowingly left the child in the backseat.
A change in routine, lack of sleep, stress and other distractions are just some of the reasons these tragedies happen. But U.S. safety officials want to remind people that many of these deaths are preventable.
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Tips to prevent hot car deaths in children
These are some simple habits that can keep your child safe:
- Place the diaper bag in the front seat as a visual cue.
- You can also put a personal item in the back seat, like your employee ID badge or cellphone.
- Another precaution is to ask your child care provider to call you right away if your child is not at the facility.
- Never let a child play in an unattended car and keep keys safely stored out of their reach.
- If you see a child left alone inside a car, check to make sure they are responsive and OK. If not, immediately alert authorities.
