Leaving Infants and Young Children in
Hot Vehicles, Even If Windows Are Open, Can Be Deadly
August 8, 2007—Denver—
Child injury prevention experts from the Colorado Department
of Public Health and Environment Wednesday warned parents
and caregivers never to leave a child unattended in a hot
vehicle, even if it’s just
for a few minutes or if the windows are open. Health
officials explained young children can die from heat stroke
or can experience permanent injury when left in a hot
vehicle because the heat rapidly overwhelms their small
bodies’ ability to regulate temperature.
“A child’s core body temperature can increase three to
five times faster than that of an adult. When overheated,
the body can go into shock, causing circulation to vital
organs to fail,” warned Barbara Bailey, an injury prevention
specialist with the department. She stressed that when the
outside temperature is 93 F, even with a window cracked, the
temperature inside a car can reach a deadly 125 F in just 20
minutes and approximately 140 F in 40 minutes. Bailey said
approximately 30 children in the U.S. die each year from
being left in hot vehicles. She provided the following
safety precautions for parents to prevent heat-related
injuries and deaths in vehicles:
- Never leave a child unattended in a motor vehicle,
in any weather, even with the windows down.
- Teach children not to play in, on or around
vehicles.
- Always lock car doors and trunks, even at home, and
keep keys out of the reach of children.
- Watch children closely around vehicles, particularly
when loading or unloading items.
- Don’t overlook sleeping infants. Always check the
back seat before exiting a vehicle.
- If a child gets locked inside a vehicle, dial 9-1-1
or the local emergency number immediately.
- To avoid burns, make certain car seats and seat belt
buckles aren’t overly hot when restraining children in a
vehicle that has been parked in the heat.
- Use a light-colored window covering to shade the
seat of a parked vehicle. Consider using windshield
shades in front and back windows.
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