Safe Kids Riverbend Coalition: Protect children from heatstroke

Hot summer days have contributed to more than 13 child deaths so far this year in the United States because of heatstroke, which can happen when kids are unattended in vehicles.

Safe Kids Riverbend Coalition reminds parents/guardians and caregivers to never leave children alone in a vehicle, and if a person sees a child alone in a car, call 911.

Heatstroke, also known as hyperthermia, is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths for children. It occurs when the body can’t cool itself quickly enough and the body temperature rises to dangerous levels.

Young children are particularly at risk as their bodies heat up three to five times faster than an adult’s. Since 1998, at least 982 children across the United States have died from heatstroke when alone in a vehicle.

“A car can heat up 19 degrees in 10 minutes. And cracking a window doesn’t help,” said Vickey Manning, Safe Kids Riverbend Coalition. “Heatstroke can happen anytime, anywhere. We don’t want to see this happen to any family. That’s why Safe Kids Riverbend Coalition is asking everyone to help protect kids from this very preventable tragedy by never leaving a child alone in a car, not even for a minute.”

Together, we can cut down the number of deaths and near misses by remembering to ACT.

• A: Avoid heatstroke-related injury and death by never leaving a child alone in a car, not even for a minute. And make sure to keep your car locked up when you’re not inside so kids don’t get in on their own.

• C: Create Reminders. Keep a stuffed animal or other memento in your child’s car seat when it’s empty and move it to the front seat as a visual reminder when your child is in the back seat. Or place and secure your phone, briefcase, or purse in the back seat when traveling with your child.

• 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.

For more information on preventing child heatstroke deaths, please visit: www.safekids.org/heatstroke