Safety Recommendations
Even on mild or cloudy days, temperatures inside vehicles can reach life-threatening levels. Leaving windows slightly open doesn’t help. Children should never be left unattended or be able to get inside a vehicle. Three primary circumstances resulting in deaths of children in hot cars are:
● A caregiver forgets a child in a vehicle – 53%
● A child gains access to a vehicle – 24%
● Someone knowingly leaves a child in a vehicle – 22%
NSC advises parents and caregivers to stick to a routine and avoid distractions to reduce the risk of forgetting a child. Place a purse, briefcase, phone, or even a left shoe or stuffed animal in the back seat to force you to take one last look before walking away. Keep car doors locked so children cannot gain access and teach them that cars are not play areas. The look-before-you-lock checklist is a helpful resource for anyone with littles and even animals.
See resources below.
● Pediatric Vehicular Stakeholder Workgroup
● National Child Passenger Safety Board
● National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
● American Academy of Pediatrics