Healthcare professionals educate parents and implore them to always have young children ride in the back seat, properly secured in an age-appropriate car seat. However, we need to talk about a disturbing trend. There have been at least 22 deaths so far this year as a result of children being left in hot vehicles. I think many of us react to this news with “Who would do that? (Not me!)” It turns out that about half of these tragedies is accidental. Again, we can’t imagine that it could happen to us. However, the possibilities are endless, and none of us is immune. Some children enter unlocked vehicles and the driver later takes off unaware that a sleeping child is in the back seat. Cracking the windows does little to relieve the heat. Some people get so distracted when they are running late, using their cell phone, dealing with traffic jams and other routine interruptions that they forget they haven’t dropped off their child at childcare.
Our daily habits program our brains in a way that is more powerful than its ability to handle exceptions. You “remember” that you dropped off your child when, in fact, you haven’t today. Maybe you’re dropping off your grandchild, and this isn’t your usual routine.
A vehicle’s interior can warm 20 degrees higher than the surrounding environment in ten minutes, and 40 degrees in a few hours at the elevated temperatures we’ve had lately. Internal temperature rises 3-5 times faster in children compared with adults. These heat-related deaths unfortunately happen even when the outside temperature is in a more comfortable range.
Some generally accepted tips to prevent accidentally leaving a child in the back seat:
• Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle, even with the windows cracked or the engine running with the air conditioning turned on.
• Always lock your vehicle when leaving it, even at home to prevent unauthorized or accidental entry — by anyone!
• Always check the backseat of your vehicle before entering and after you exit.
• Write a note or make a reminder sign to place in the front seat when you place your child in the back seat.
• Place a stuffed animal in the front seat when you strap your child into the back seat to remind you that he or she is there.
• Please instruct your daycare to contact you if you are more than ten minutes late dropping off your child. A recent case in the news involved a mother who realized her mistake when the daycare called to ask why they were three hours overdue. If someone else is dropping off your child, ask them to call you afterwards to confirm that your child is safe.
• Put something you “can’t do without” like a laptop, cell phone, or purse in the backseat so you will be more likely to check when getting out.
• Place your child in the seat behind the passenger seat where they are more likely to be noticed instead of the “blind spot” behind the driver’s seat.
• If you see an unattended child in the back seat of a vehicle, call the police immediately — there’s no safe amount of time for a child to be alone in a car.
• Electronic monitors are available that are advertised to keep your child safer in the car. Some of these have not been proven to be effective, so be careful and still use several of the other techniques above.
If you are thinking “This couldn’t possibly happen to me, I’m a good parent” — your children are already in danger.
If the heat wave continues, we’ll discuss heat exhaustion and heat stroke in adults next month. Stay cool and safe out there!
Dr. Fleming is the Medical Director of The Jane Pauley Community Health Center (part of Community Health Network). Ideas for this column can be e-mailed to Dr. Fleming at AskDrFleming@gmail.com