The loss of a child will be a highly traumatic event for any parent. These events can take a big toll on mental health, often leading to conditions like depression. Sadly, deaths resulting from leaving a child in a hot car are still common. It’s estimated that in 2019, around 15 children aged under 15 die as a result of heatstroke caused by being left in a hot car. This can happen quickly, with their bodies heating three times faster than adults. For many, these statistics are shocking. Thankfully, there are a few simple things that you can do to make sure that your family is kept safe this summer.
Use Reminders To Make Sure That You Check The Backseat
Though it sounds strange, leaving the child forgotten in a car, is one of the most common reasons why heatstroke deaths occur. To prevent this, there is a range of techniques that you might want to use. For example, you might want to place an object that reminds you of your child in a prominent place in the vehicle. This could be a family photo on the dashboard or a hair tie on the rearview mirror.
You should also make sure to check that they have left the car before you lock the vehicle, so you don’t accidentally leave them locked in car. To do this, you can place your phone or wallet in the backseat, so you will need to go into that section of the car to retrieve it. You might also want to get into the habit of checking that all the doors are locked. This will let you make sure that the vehicle is secure and give you a chance to make sure that everyone is out of the car.
Put The Keys In A Safe Place
In some cases, a child can get into the car without your knowledge. They might find the keys and unlock the car. If they accidentally lock themselves inside, they often don’t know what to do, or how to get the car unlocked again.
There are a few ways that you can prevent this. First, you should make sure to keep the keys in a safe place. This can mean storing them in your pocket during a day trip. In other cases, you might want to place the keys onto a high shelf, which your child might not be able to reach.
Talk To Your Childcare Provider
One of the best steps is to make sure that you are talking to your childcare provider to establish a strong routine in case your child doesn’t come into the center on time. Often, the best way to do this is by getting them to call you if your child is more than ten minutes late. This is especially important if you have someone else driving your children into childcare.
Call 911 Immediately
Finally, the best way to prevent hot car death is by making sure that you are contacting the authorities if you think that someone might be in trouble. If you see a minor, unattended, in a car, you need to take decisive action. In this case, you will need to call 911 and alert the authorities. Then, you will need to help them get out. The 911 operator will be able to guide you on the best way of doing this. Lastly, you can help them recover. This can mean spraying them with cool water. Don’t give them ice or freezing water, as you don’t want their body temperature to fall too quickly.
Conclusion
Helping prevent hot car death is everyone’s responsibility. Whether you’re a parent or a community member, there are actions that we can all take to make sure that no child dies from being locked in car.
