Don’t leave children unattended in vehicles

“During the warm summer months, temperatures can rise very rapidly inside a vehicle even if it’s parked in the shade. A tragedy can occur within minutes if a child is left in a closed car,” explains Tonya Millard, Director at Family Resource Center of Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital. “The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that since 1996 over 240 children have died of heatstroke after being trapped inside parked cars and at least 19 have died already this year. Most of these children were in child safety seats and left behind or forgotten by an adult. Others gained access to an unlocked car and then became trapped inside.”

Young children trapped in a hot, closed vehicle are at particularly great risk on a day that is sunny or humid. Even when the temperature is as mild as 60 degrees Fahrenheit, a closed vehicle can heat to levels that are dangerous for children within a short period of time.

Family Resource Center urges parents and caregivers to be extremely vigilant and offers these safety precautions:

• Never leave your child unattended in a motor vehicle, even with a window open.
• Teach children not to play in, on or around cars.
• Always lock car doors and trunks and keep keys out of the reach of children.
• Watch children closely around cars, particularly when loading or unloading items.
• Ensure that children exit the vehicle at your destination.
Don’t overlook sleeping infants.
• Place an unmistakable reminder of a child’s presence where you’ll be sure to see it before you leave the vehicle. For example, place a diaper bag right next to you, your briefcase or your lunch bag.
• Check the temperature of child safety seats and seat belt buckles before restraining your child.
• The trunks of cars can also be especially hazardous. In very hot weather, within minutes a child trapped in the trunk of a vehicle can suffer a heatstroke that leads to permanent disability or even death. Remember these safety precautions:
• Keep the trunk of your car locked at all times, especially when the vehicle is parked in the driveway or near your home.
• Keep rear fold-down seats closed to help prevent kids from getting into the trunk from the passenger area of a car.
• Put car keys out of the reach and sight of children.
• Be wary of child-resistant locks. Teach older children how they can unlock the door if they become trapped in a motor vehicle.

“Anyone who observes a small child alone in a closed vehicle should contact emergency services immediately,” adds Tonya Millard.

For additional information and resources available for your family at Family Resource Center, call (608) 357-2135. Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital’s Family Resource Center is located at 800 East Taylor Street in Prairie du Chien.