With temperatures rising once again, the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office is urging community families to look before they lock to prevent hot car deaths.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 940 children have died of heatstroke after being left or trapped in a car, with 2018 and 2019 seeing the most tragedies on record. A change in routine is often to blame when a parent or caregiver forgets a child in a car, with it being partially why the administration urges caregivers to “never leave your child alone in a car, even if you think you’ll only be gone for a minute.”
With a child’s body temperature rising three to five times faster than an adult’s and the temperature inside of a car able to rise up to 15 degrees in 9 minutes, the NHTSA notes that “hot car deaths can happen in vehicles parked in shaded areas in temperatures as low as 57 degrees, even with the windows cracked.” They also note that rolling down a window does little to keep a vehicle cool, with the inside of a vehicle able to reach dangerous temperatures in as little as 10 minutes.
Even on a 75 degree day, the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office noted in a Monday social media release that a car’s inside temperature would be almost 110 degrees after just a half hour. Injury or death can happen very quickly in a hot car, as heat stroke begins when the core body temperature reaches about 104 degrees and children can die when their body temperature reaches 107 degrees.
Both the NHTSA and the sheriff’s office urges everyone to do their part to keep children safe, reminding the community to lock your car when you’re not using it, saying that “Even if you don’t have a child of your own, a child in your neighborhood could get into your unlocked vehicle, with tragic consequences.”
While some new vehicles come with backseat reminder technology, when you’re driving with your child, remember to always look before you leave your vehicle to make sure your child has been dropped off at daycare or with a caregiver, not left behind in the car seat. They also suggest putting your purse or phone in the backseat with the child so you remember to check before you go.
And while most tips are for parents and caregivers, authorities urge everyone to act immediately and call 911 if you see a child alone in a locked car. A child in distress due to heat should be removed from the vehicle as quickly as possible and rapidly cooled by spraying them with cool water or using a damp cloth or towel.
