SAFETY EXPERTS SAY
Think This Can’t Happen to You? Think Again.
By Janette E. Fennell, President & Founder, KidsAndCars.org, June 2015
Every summer at KidsAndCars.org, we brace ourselves for the rising number of children who will die of heatstroke in
vehicles. In the past 20 years, more than 670 U.S. children have lost their lives after unknowingly being left in a vehicle
or gaining access to a vehicle on their own.
Please, do not stop reading here because you believe you could NEVER forget your child in a vehicle. After working on
this issue for more than 18 years, I can assure you that the absolute worst mistake any parent or caregiver can make is
to think that this could never happen to them – and that they are not capable of unknowingly leaving their child behind.
After experiencing the most unthinkable tragedy one could endure, the parents we work with are the first ones to admit
that they NEVER thought something like this could happen to them or their family. The suffering these families
experience is simply unimaginable.
These same parents have every safety device available in their homes and love and cherish their children above all. They
are moms and dads, just like you and me. In 90% of the cases where children die in a hot vehicle, the parents are pillars
of their community and from all walks of life – a minister, dentist, doctor, college professor, construction worker, stayat-home parents, the CEO of a hospital, a vice-principal and yes, even a rocket scientist.
Fatigue, lack of sleep, a minor change in daily routine or distractions can throw anyone’s life off course. Still, many
people question how a parent or caregiver could forget their child. KidsAndCars.org works with memory experts who
have studied these type of cases. Their findings indicate that the brain processes involved in forgetting a child and
material objects are disturbingly similar. Scientific studies confirm that you cannot assume your memory will never fail,
even when it involves your precious child – and the consequences of a memory failure can be catastrophic when it does
involve your child.
Current state laws require putting your baby in a rear-facing child safety seat in the backseat of vehicles. These laws
have saved the lives of thousands of children in car crashes. The correlation between the rise in heat stroke deaths and
the mid-1990s move to put children in the backseat is striking. An unintended consequence of this shift to the backseat
is that when the child is “out of sight” those quiet little unobtrusive passengers can slip “out of mind.”
In addition, children are particularly vulnerable to heatstroke since a child’s body temperature rises three to five times
faster than an adult’s and their respiratory system is not fully developed. This fact and knowing the temperature in a car
can rise very quickly, even with the windows slightly opened, can lead to deadly consequences in a matter of minutes.
KidsAndCars.org works tirelessly year-round to educate parents and caregivers about these dangers, including our
nationwide “Look Before You Lock” program. One tip to avoid this type of tragedy is to leave your cellphone, employee
badge or handbag in the backseat on the floorboard in front of your child. This way you’ll be forced to open the
backdoor when you arrive at your destination and look in the backseat before you lock your vehicle.
Also, make sure you have a plan with your childcare provider. Parents should agree to always call the provider if the
child will not be coming in as scheduled. Then, if your child does not arrive as planned, the childcare provider should
promise to call every emergency number you have given them until they confirm the whereabouts of your child. This
one telephone call can save the life of a child who has been unknowingly left alone in a vehicle.
Additionally, to ensure that children cannot get into vehicles on their own, always keep your car locked, even in the
garage and driveway, and keep keys and key fobs out of their reach. If a child is missing, immediately check the inside
and trunk of all vehicles in the area very carefully, just as you would a swimming pool or other body of water.
By being cautious, attentive and safety minded with your children, you can help to make sure they stay safe in and
around vehicles. For more information please visit the KidsAndCars.org website at www.KidsAndCars.org.
To download a list of safety tips, please click here.
http://www.toysrusinc.com/safety/safety-experts-say/