Summer 2010

Don't leave children unattended in vehicles

“Temperatures can rise very rapidly inside a vehicle even in cool temperatures. With the windows cracked open, interior temperatures can rise almost 20 degrees Fahrenheit within the first 10 minutes putting anyone left inside at risk for serious heat-related illnesses or even death,” explains Heidi Kirschbaum, RN, ER Clinical Coordinator Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital. “Children who are left unattended in parked cars are at greatest risk for heat stroke, and possibly death.”

The hospital urges parents and caregivers to be extremely vigilant during hot weather. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends these safety precautions:

• Never leave infants, children or pets in a parked car, even if the windows are cracked open.
• To remind yourself that a child is in the car, keep a stuffed animal in the car seat. When the child is buckled in, place the stuffed animal in the front with the driver.
• When leaving your car, check to be sure everyone is out of the car. Do not overlook any children who have fallen asleep in the car.