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eight deaths of children unattended in vehicles; nineteen which has been confirmed as heatstroke and nine which, based upon the known circumstances, are most likely heatstroke. The temperature inside a vehicle can rise 20 degrees in as little as 10 minutes, and 50 degrees in an hour- even when outside air temperatures are in the 70's! The inside of a car acts like a greenhouse, where actual temperatures inside the vehicle can reach 120°F in minutes and approach 150°F in as little as an hour! This can cause hyperthermia (heat stroke) in only minutes, particularly in children, whose body temperatures warm at a rate three to five times faster than an adult. Studies have shown that "cracking the windows" provides little (if any) relief.
• Since 1998 at least 532 children have died nationwide from being left in a hot car. Half of these were children that were forgotten by a parent or other caregiver, and nearly 20 percent died when parents knowingly left their child in a vehicle. The rest died playing in an unattended vehicle.
• All of these tragic deaths are preventable! To help bring awareness to this issue, the National Weather Service is using the slogan "Beat the Heat, Check the Backseat" to remind people to remember to check for small children in a car seat and to never leave children unattended in a vehicle- even for a few moments. Remember that pets should also never be left in a vehicle during the summer months.
• The following are basic safety recommendations:
• • Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle. Not even for a minute!
• • If you see a child unattended in a hot vehicle, call 911 immediately!
• • If a child is missing, always check the pool first, and then the car, including the trunk.
• • Be sure that all occupants leave the vehicle when unloading. Don't overlook sleeping babies.
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