Unfortunately, getting left alone in a hot car is a serious "hidden danger." In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that about 25 kids a year die after being left alone in a hot car.
How hot can a car get? If it is 80 F to 100 F outside, the inside of a car can quickly reach temperatures up to 131 F to 172 F. That can quickly lead to heat stroke and death, even after just 10 or 15 minutes in the car.
That makes it important to never leave your child alone in your car.
How does it happen though? Often it seems to happen when someone unexpectedly changes their daily routine. For example, instead of dropping your baby off at daycare, you may go to the bank first. You may then go to work and forget that your baby is in the car.
To help reduce the risk that you might leave your child alone in your car, it might help to:
- place a reminder in the back seat, such as the keyless entry remote that locks a car (put it on a key chain separate from the car keys), your purse, wallet, briefcase, or anything else that you typically take with you and can't do without
- put something on the dashboard, your keychain (like a pacifier), or car window to remind you that your baby may be in the car
- ask your daycare provider to set up a system where they call if you don't show up with your baby and haven't called in sick
- when you get home, bring your baby inside the house first and then bring in the groceries so that you don't get distracted inside the house and forget your baby outside in the car
- consider installing a safety device to warn you that your baby is in the car such as The Child Minder system.
Sources: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Children and Cars A Potentially Lethal Combination DOT HS 810 636.
