Cars are the No. 1 killer of infants and children. Car crashes are the No. 1 cause of death for children.
However, heatstroke is the No. 2 killer, and having been left in a car is often the cause. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Early Childhood Development division, through the Office of the Administration for Children and Families, partnering with other federal agencies such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, instituted a campaign in 2012 to prevent such deaths. The campaign, "Where's Baby?" reminds parents to, "Always remember to look twice before you lock your vehicle. Even when it's not sunny. Pledge to Prevent Child Heatstroke in Cars."
A car can heat up very quickly, and children do not respond to changes in temperature the same as adults. Regardless of the outside temperature, a car heats up on average over three degrees every five minutes, with a significant rise in temperature in the first 30 minutes.
A window opened a few inches does not significantly slow the rapid rise in temperature. A car in a 72 degree environment can still heat up to over 110 degrees. Infants and children have a greater body surface area compared to adults and their thermal regulation is not as developed and is less efficient, making them more vulnerable to a rise in temperature.
Between the years 1998 and 2014, there were 636 child deaths associated with being alone in a hot car. However, not all the car-related deaths were due to a parent intentionally or accidentally leaving children alone in the cars.
A study looking at the 171 deaths between the years 1995 and 2002 found that 27 percent were children who had gotten into unlocked cars. The other 73 percent were children whose parents had left them unattended in the car. Of these, 25 percent of the adults had intentionally left the child in the car. Forty-three percent of those deaths associated with unintentionally having been left in the car were related to transportation to or from child care.
In every season, an infant or child is vulnerable to a heat-related death in a car. But the hotter months of summer create a greater risk. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and other government agencies encourage anyone associated with the care of infants of children to always remain vigilant.
Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle — even if the windows are partially open or the engine is running and the air conditioning is on;
- "Make a habit of looking in the vehicle — front and back — before locking the door and walking away;
- Ask the childcare provider to call if the child doesn't show up for care as expected;
- Do things that serve as a reminder that a child is in the vehicle, such as placing a purse or briefcase in the back seat to ensure no child is accidentally left in the vehicle, or writing a note or using a stuffed animal placed in the driver's view to indicate a child is in the car seat; and
- Teach children that a vehicle is not a play area and store keys out of a child's reach."
Further, they suggest that anyone noticing a child alone in a car contact emergency services. The safety of infants and children should be a priority.
