Look Before you Lock
Can’t Take the Heat? Neither can they…
On a sunny day in the low 80s it only takes 20 minutes for the temperature inside your car to become deadly. Children under 5 are at greates risk for hyperthermia which can lead to seizures, organ damage, brain damage, stroke and death.
NO AMOUNT OF TIME IS OK
Never leave infants or toddlers in a parked vehicle, even with partially open windows.
Here are some helpful tips to help prevent such a situation:
- Make a habit of looking in the vehicle, front and back, before locking the door and walking away
- Put your purse or briefcase in the back seat so you always have to look in the back of the car before you leave
- When you put your child in the car seat place a teddy bear, a toy, or the diaper bag, on the passenger seat as a reminder the child is in the car.
- When leaving your car, check to be sure everyone is out of the car, do not overlook any children who have fallen asleep
- You can set a cell phone or BlackBerry reminder to drop the kid off at daycare or school
- Set your computer Outlook program to ask, "Did you drop off your child today?"
- Have a plan with the childcare provider to call if your kid doesn't arrive as expected
If you see a child alone in a vehicle, call the police