Katie Bassett
Blogger

Keeping children out of the car during hot weather sounds easy in theory. Each of us like to think that heat strokes and other heat illness happen as a result of a parent not paying proper attention or “forgetting” about their child in a car. We never dream that a situation like this would happen to us because we are keen, attentive parents. However, this is certainly not the case.

As parents, we all know that leaving a child in a car alone is extremely dangerous, but did you know that there are other circumstances that can lead to child heatstroke deaths in vehicles? Aside from being “forgotten” in a car, a child that is playing in an unattended vehicle can be at risk. This can be the result of a simple game of hide-and-go-seek.

So far in 2016, 27 children have suffered from a heat stroke as a result of being left in a car. Even for a just a few minutes, car temperatures can spike which can affect your child drastically. On a day that is just 72 degrees F, the temperature inside a car can actually increase up to 40% in just one hour. On top of that, the majority of the heat increase happens within the first 3o minutes the car turning off.

Child Heat Illnesses

Children are more susceptible to illnesses of all sorts, and heat illnesses are a prime example. A child’s body can create a tremendous amount of heat that is normally exhausted through sweating. However, in extreme heat conditions—like car temperatures during the summer months—a child’s cooling system isn’t able to sustain and begins to fail. The following can occur when this happens:

• Heat cramps: These are brief, painful surges that a child experiences, generally due to dehydration. While these alone cannot kill your child, they are a huge indicator that your child is not safe in the given heart conditions
• Heat exhaustion: This is a more severe heat illness that causes weakness, nausea, and fainting. If left untreated, heat exhaustion can lead to more dreadful reactions
• Heat stroke: When a child is exhibiting signs of heat exhaustion and their body temperature surpasses 104 degrees F, they are at high risk of a heat stroke, which can be fatal.

If your child begins to exhibit any of these, regardless of the activity he or she has just taken a part of, it is important to act on any symptoms, before they escalate. Below are a few things you can do:

1. Immediately bring the child to a cooler area and get him or her water.
2. Remove any excess clothing that could be building up heat.
3. Place a cool wet cloth over the child’s skin, usually aiming at the points of highest perspiration i.e. forehead, neck and wrists.
4. Fetch a drink that is higher in sugar. This can spike the child’s blood pressure and ultimately refuel their body.
5. If the child’s symptoms don’t begin to fade, seek further help immediately.

What Can You Do to Prevent This?

Preventative action is required to lower the risk of your child suffering from a heat illness. Keep your child safe, especially in these summer months, by doing the following:

1. No exceptions, never leave a child in the car. A few minutes can have an everlasting effect on your child’s life. Never let them.
2. Keep cars locked when not in use. You’d be surprised how many kids enjoy jumping around in a car that’s unattended and immobile. To prevent any horse play when you are not around, make sure all doors to your car are locked, including your trunk.
3. Cool the car down prior. Before you or your children get in the car, turn the car on to cool things down. This is particularly important if you are living in places with extreme heat like Arizona, Florida, or Texas.
4. Check that your child has arrived. If your child takes a school bus or rides with another parent, always make sure your child got to school safe and sound.
5. As a bystander, act out. If you see a child left unattended in the car, don’t hesitate to call the police; you could ultimately save this child’s life.

About Katie Bassett

Katie primarily focuses her research and writing efforts on youth safety and development. Right now, she is concentrating on advocacy projects for Mayor Law.

View all posts by Katie Bassett here.

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