As an unprecedented heat dome descends on the
U.S., safety experts warn that kids are at risk of a fatal
heatstroke if left alone in a car
WASHINGTON, June 18,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- With more than half of the
country facing record-high temperatures this week, Safe Kids
is reminding parents that the space inside of a car can quickly
rise to deadly temperatures —and that caregivers should
never leave children alone in a vehicle, even for a
minute.
Doing so puts children at serious risk of heatstroke, which has
resulted nearly 1,000 hot car deaths since 1998.
To learn more safety tips, visit:
http://www.safekids.org/heatstroke
"Our goal is to make sure that heatstroke doesn't claim the life
of another child," said Torine
Creppy, president of Safe Kids Worldwide. "Many people are
shocked to learn how hot the inside of a car can get. Even on an
80-degree day, it can rise 20 degrees in as little as 10 minutes
and keep getting hotter with each passing minute. And cracking the
window doesn't help. Whether you are a parent, a caregiver, or a
concerned bystander, we're calling on everyone to be part of the
solution and help save lives."
Heatstroke sets in when the body isn't able to cool itself
quickly enough. A child's body heats up three to five times faster
than adult's, making them more susceptible to heatstroke. When a
child's internal temperature reaches 104 degrees, major organs
begin to shut down, and when that temperature reaches 107 degrees,
the child can die.
Safe Kids is asking everyone to help protect kids by remembering
to ACT:
- A: Avoid heatstroke-related injury and death by never
leaving your child alone in a car, not even for a minute. And make
sure to keep your car locked when you're not in it so kids don't
get in on their own.
- C: Create reminders so you don't forget to take
your child from the car. Put something next to your child that you
will need at your final destination, such as a briefcase, a purse
or a cell phone. This is especially important if you're not
following your normal routine
- T: Take action. If you see a child alone in a car,
call 911. Emergency personnel want you to call. They are trained to
respond to these situations. One call could save a life.
To schedule an interview with an expert, contact Gary Karton at gkarton@safekids.org.
About Safe Kids Worldwide
Safe Kids Worldwide is a
nonprofit organization working to reduce unintentional injuries to
children ages 0-14 and build equitable and sustained systems that
support injury prevention. Safe Kids works with strategic partners
and an extensive network of more than 400 coalitions in the U.S. to
reduce traffic injuries, drownings, sleep-related deaths, falls,
burns, poisonings, and more. Learn more
at safekids.org.
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SOURCE Safe Kids Worldwide