WASHINGTON — Local child safety advocates are asking parents to take action after heatstroke claimed the life of yet another child left in a hot car Wednesday.
“This is the ninth heatstroke victim of the year [in the U.S.] and the fourth in May,” said Safe Kids Prince George’s County Lead Coordinator Teresa Ann Crisman.
The latest incident resulted in the death of an 8-month old in Wilmington, North Carolina.
“The [boy] was never dropped off at a day care and was found dead in the car after the mother went to pick the child up,” Crisman said. Most cases like this involve a change in routine.
“We ask people to create a reminder — they can put something in the back seat to remind them,” Crisman said, recommending items such as a phone, purse or office key.
The Safe Kids Coalition wants parents and caregivers to prevent deaths and near misses by remembering to ACT.
- A: Avoid heatstroke-related injury and death by never leaving a child alone in a car. Also, to prevent children from getting into a car independently, make sure to keep doors locked.
- C: Create reminders by putting something in the back seat next to your child such as a briefcase, purse or cellphone that would be needed at the final destination. This is especially important for people off normal routines.
- T: Take action. If you see a child alone in a car, call 911. One call could save a life.
Also, parents and day care providers can pledge to call each other to confirm a child’s whereabouts if he’s missing from day care or an atypical drop-off is planned.
The year’s first child heatstroke victim was intentionally left in a car by a grandmother visiting a friend. The grandmother thought the child would be OK because the weather was cold, but she left the vehicle’s heat running.
“We want to remind everybody that children cannot be left unattended in hot cars,” said Crisman. “And that goes for your pets too — you can’t leave your pets unattended.”
On warm days, temperatures inside a vehicle can exceed external temperatures by 30 degrees.
