Heat stroke deaths are preventable with these important tips from Safe Kids Tulsa Area.
Tulsa — A few minutes might not seem like a long time, but there are circumstances when it can mean the difference between life and
death. As temperatures begin to heat up, children are at a serious risk for heat stroke when left alone even for a few minutes in a closed
vehicle. Last year, at least 24 children across the United States died from heatstroke caused by being left or trapped in a vehicle.
“Drivers need to understand that a vehicle is not a babysitter—but it can quickly become an oven,” said Beth Washington, coordinator of
Safe Kids Tulsa Area. “A child under 10 should never be left alone in or around a vehicle—even for a minute. When it comes to the safety
of a child, there’s just too much to lose.”
Heat is much more dangerous to children than it is to adults. When left in a hot vehicle, a young child’s core body temperature may
increase three to five times faster than that of an adult. This could cause permanent injury or even death. Heat stroke occurs when the
core body temperature reaches 104 degrees Fahrenheit. A core body temperature of 107 degrees Fahrenheit is considered lethal.
“The inside of a vehicle can rise 19 degrees above the outside temperature in just 10 minutes,” said Washington. “After an hour, the
temperature inside and outside of a vehicle can differ by 45 degrees or more – even if the window is left open a crack.”
According to research conducted by San Francisco State University, even with relatively cool temperatures outside—70 degrees—the
inside of a car can reach a dangerous temperature in just minutes.
The research also revealed that more than half of these children were accidentally left behind in a closed, parked car by parents or
caregivers while nearly a third of these children were trapped while playing in a vehicle unattended. Sadly, one in five children who died
was intentionally left in the vehicle by an adult.
Safe Kids suggests these tips for parents and caregivers:
• Teach children not to play in, on or around vehicles.
• Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle, even with the window slightly open.
• Always lock a vehicle’s doors and trunk – especially when the car is parked at home. Keep keys and remote entry devices
out of children’s reach.
• Place something that you’ll need at your next stop – such as a purse, a lunch, gym bag or briefcase – on the floor of the
backseat where the child is sitting. This simple act could help prevent you from accidentally forgetting a child.
Never Leave Your Child Alone is a component of Safe Kids Buckle Up, the multidimensional program created by Safe Kids USA and General
Motors to teach families how to keep children safer in and around vehicles. Nationwide, more than 19 million people have been exposed
to the program through educational activities, car seat checkup events and community outreach programs. In June 2008 the program
celebrated the milestone of one million child safety seats checked for proper installation.
