Kids and cars: Keeping our children safe this summer

Summer is always a fun time of year, full of BBQ’s, swimming, and outdoor fun. But it can also be a dangerous time as we are always on the go in our cars, and the intense heat we experience. Let’s review some facts about kids and car safety, as well as some tips for keeping everyone safe.

Car safety: Preventing backing drive overs

Major Risk Factors:

• Children under 5 years old
• High profile vehicles such as SUV’s, vans, and trucks
• Vehicles traveling in reverse
• Rushed and distracted driving

Prevention Tips:

• Check street, driveway, and area around your vehicle. Do a “walk around” before getting in your car.
• Supervise when a driver is leaving
• Teach children not to play around or under cars, and not to leave bikes, scooters, etc. in the driveway
• Roll down windows and turn radio off to hear children

Heat safety in cars: Never leave your child alone

Between 1998 and 2011, nearly 525 children died as a result of being left alone in a car. You are risking the lives of your children when you leave them unattended in a vehicle even for just a few minutes.

Safety facts:

• 33% of children who die from being left in cars are under 1 year old
• Cracking your windows has very little effect on internal temperature
• Children’s temperatures can increase 3-5x faster than an adult’s
• Make a habit of checking your vehicle before you leave it
• Keep a stuffed animal or other reminder next to you in the car as a cue that your child is with you
• If you see a child (or animal) left alone in a car, contact the police or call 911
• Children left unattended in a vehicle are at risk of being kidnapped
• Children left unattended in a car can push buttons, turn off the brakes, put the car in gear or even leave the vehicle and walk way

As we go about our fun Summer activities, let’s remember to put safety first, and keep our children safe.