Special Labor Day reminder: dangers of kids alone in or around vehicles

(ROCKWALL, TX — Aug. 31, 2016) From the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office in Rockwall County:

As summer is coming to a close with kids in school in Texas, it is still critical to remember children will be spending more time in vehicles including siblings headed to daycare. Parents have lots of responsibilities as the hustle and bustle of school gets under way. So it is up to everyone to keep children safe. Temperatures are still very hot and will remain that way for several months. So remember to Look Before you Lock! The Safercar.gov 2016 campagin was developed to remind drivers and caregivers to check for children before leaving the vehicle. Their website has a number of campaign marketing tools to get the word out to remind everyone to check the car’s back seats before leaving the vehicle: safercar.gov/parents/InandAroundtheCar/InandAroundtheCar.htm

Keep in Mind a Child’s Sensitivity to Heat:
•             In 10 minutes, a car’s temperature can rise over 20 degrees.
•             Even at an outside temperature of 60 degrees, the temperature inside your car can reach 110 degrees.
•             A child dies when his/her body temperature reaches 107 degrees.

When we think of children left alone in cars, our first thought is the danger of children dying in hot cars due to heatstroke. In addition to heat risks, there are other safety concerns with unsupervised children around cars, including back-overs, the risk of children releasing the gear shift or engaging electric windows, and even becoming trapped inside vehicles or trunks.

According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, approximately 39 percent of back-over deaths occurred at home in the driveway, an apartment parking lot, or in a townhome complex. Drivers in back-over and front-over deaths are often family members or family friends of the child.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Rockwall County reminds parents and caregivers to be extra vigilant during this Labor Day weekend as well as Every Day to make sure children are never left alone in or around parked vehicles. Follow the safety tips in this article to be sure that children cannot be harmed in a vehicle.

Tips to Avoid Child Heatstroke

Always Look Before You Lock
•             Always check the back seats of your vehicle before your lock it and walk away.
•             Keep a stuffed animal or other memento in your child’s car seat when it’s empty, and move it to the front seat as a visual reminder when your child is in the back seat.
•             If someone else is driving your child, or your daily routine has been altered, always check to make sure your child has arrived safely.

Understand the Potential Consequences of Kids in Hot Cars
•             Severe injury or death
•             Being arrested and jailed
•             A lifetime of regret

Children around Parked Vehicles
•             Walk all the way around your parked vehicle to check for children, pets, or toys before getting in the car and starting the engine.
•             Make sure young children are always accompanied by an adult when getting in and out of a car.
•             Identify and use safe play areas for children away from parked or moving vehicles.
•             Designate a safe spot for children to go when nearby vehicles are about to move.
•             Firmly hold the hand of each child when walking near moving vehicles and when in driveways, parking lots or sidewalks.
•             Teach children not to play in and around vehicles.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Family & Consumer Sciences department provides research-based information for the residents of Texas.

Sources:
Insurance Institute of Highway Safety
Extension Passenger Safety, Family Development and Resource Management Safercar.gov:
http://www.safercar.gov/parents/InandAroundtheCar/heatstroke.htm?utm_campaign=%2B+Education&ut m_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=30448520&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9kvo6J9Vs- dvaflL7PDXA9gGCC4-GkJZsgtvWZ4-l5oUvlNAk-aRlkqvWLHLVW2I7wqac- 0T0rxc7iSF8TydM62wvqbw&_hsmi=30448520
San Francisco State University’s Department of Geosciences

The members of Texas A&M AgriLife will provide equal opportunities in programs and activities, education, and employment to all persons regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity and will strive to achieve full and equal employment opportunity throughout Texas A&M AgriLife.

Submitted press release.

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