It may only take a few minutes to park your car and run into the supermarket to buy a gallon of milk. But the next time you park—even if it’s for “just a minute,” don’t leave your child in the car. Sunlight and heat get trapped inside a parked car, and in direct sunlight on an 80-degree day with no ventilation, the temperature can rapidly reach up to 131 degrees, according to the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). In just 10 minutes, a child’s body temperature can go as high as 106 degrees F, leading to damage to the brain and vital organs, heat stroke, dehydration, seizures, and death.
According to our Safety blog, six children this year already have died in overheated cars. In one case, a child died after his father forgot he in the back seat and left him in the car all day. The temperature outside was only in the 60s, but reports say the air in the car topped 100 degrees.
Follow these important tips from the ACEP to keep your child safe:
- Never leave children unattended in a vehicle.
- Never let your children play in an unattended vehicle.
- Make a habit of looking in the vehicle before you get out.
- If your infant or young child travels in a rear-facing car seat or the back seat, keep a reminder for you in the front seat, for example, a stuffed animal.
- Always lock the doors and keep any keys out of reach from children.
- If you see a child left alone in a hot vehicle, call the police. If they appear in distress, don’t hesitate, get them out as quickly as possible, cool the child rapidly and call 911or your local emergency number.
—Ginger Skinner
For more on deadly car cautions, watch our video (above) and read our new report.
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