Safe Kids Pennsylvania Reminds Parents about the Dangers of Heat Stroke to Children Left Unattended in Vehicles

As summer temperatures soar, Safe Kids Pennsylvania reminds parents and caregivers about the dangers of heat stroke to children left unattended in vehicles and urges them to always check for sleeping children before leaving a vehicle. Make it a point to never leave your child alone in a care, even for one minute.

A child’s body heats up 3 to 5 times faster than an adult’s and unattended children have no way of protecting themselves in a hot vehicle. More than 50 percent of the children who died from heat stroke were forgotten by a caring adult who became distracted when they left the vehicle.

Safe Kids Pennsylvania urges all adults who transport children to take the following steps:

• Call 911 if they see a child unattended in a vehicle.
• Never leave children alone in a car - even for 1 minute.
• Set your cell phone or Blackberry reminder to be sure you drop your child off at daycare.
• Set your computer “Outlook” program to ask you, “Did you drop off at daycare today?”
• Place a cell phone, PDA, purse, briefcase, gym bag or whatever is to be carried from the car on the floor in front of the child in a back seat. This forces the adult to open the back door and observe the child.
• Have a plan with your child care provider to call if your child does not arrive when expected.
• Keep keys and remote entry key fobs out of children’s reach.
• Lock all vehicles at all times.
• Check cars and trunks first if a child goes missing.

For more information on preventing hyperthermia deaths, visit: www.safekids.org/nlyca and www.ggweather.com/heat.

Be sure to NEVER LEAVE YOUR CHILD ALONE in a vehicle.