In June 2000, a mother in New Jersey left her sleeping son in her car with the windows rolled up. After checking on him several times over the next few hours, she found the boy passed out. Tragically, he died of heatstroke. The boy's body temperature was 108 degrees F. The outside temperature was in the low 60s. This heartbreaking scenario is even more likely in summer's high temperatures.
It may be hard to imagine a parent forgetting that a child is in the car. When this happens, it is often because the parent has broken a routine and is not used to having the child there.
Not all children who get trapped in cars are left there by parents. Sadly, young children crawl into unlocked cars while playing, become confused and can't get out. A National SAFE KIDS Campaign survey showed that only half of the parents polled locked their car doors after parking the car at home.
The greenhouse effect
Car windows act like a greenhouse, trapping sunlight and heat. In warm weather, the inside can heat up to life-threatening levels in only 10 minutes. About 25 children each year die from being trapped inside hot cars.
When a car is parked in direct sunlight and the temperature is between 80 degrees F and 100 degrees F, the temperature inside the car can reach 172 degrees F. As in the case of the New Jersey boy, temperatures as low as the 60s can quickly heat a car to 110 degrees F. Cracking a window a few inches doesn't make a difference.
Damage to the brain and other vital organs takes place when body temperature gets too high. A body temperature of 104 degrees F can cause heatstroke. The body can no longer sweat and isn't able to cool itself down. A body temperature of 107 degrees F is lethal.
Follow these tips to keep your kids safe:
- Don't leave them in a parked car, even with the windows cracked open.
- Keep a stuffed animal in the car seat. When your child is in the car seat, place the stuffed animal near you as a reminder.
- To prevent burns, check the temperature of the car seat and its buckles before placing your child in the seat.
- Shade your child's seat when your car is parked. Use a light cover or a windshield shade.
- Always lock your car when it's parked at home.
Are warning alarms in our future?
Several devices have been invented to remind parents that a child is still in the car. However, none of them are yet on the market.
One is the Child Presence Sensor, developed by NASA. The sensor hangs on the driver's key ring and is triggered when a child is placed in the car seat. If the driver leaves the car and walks too far away, warning beeps sound. If the driver doesn't return within one minute, an alarm goes off. The sensor won't turn off until the child is removed from the seat.
Another invention sounds if it detects motion inside a car in high temperatures. This device is sensitive enough to pick up a sleeping baby's movements.
