This post was sponsored Auto Alliance as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.
I can remember the very first time that I heard about a baby dying from being left in a hot car. I was in my late teens and thought to myself, “how could anyone forget they had a baby in the car”. Now fast forward to today I have 3 kids and I find myself understanding to some extent how this awful tragedy could have occurred. There are so many factors that could effect our judgment as parents. Sleep deprivation, change in morning routine, stress, and the list goes on and on. I know that most of us say “that would never happen to me”, ” would never forget my baby in the car”. But folks, it happens more often than it should and that’s one of the reasons I decided to write this post.
But it’s not just babies or kids who are forgot about that die or get hurt from being left in a hot car. There are also kids who have just been left in a car for a few minutes that have suffered from heat stroke. Once your vehicle is parked and the windows are rolled up or even cracked, the inside temperature raises very quickly. In just minutes the temperature inside of a car reaches the temperature of the outside air. On a hot day this can mean 100+ degrees. Young children are particularly at risk because their bodies can heat up 3 to 5 times faster than adults.
Data shows that there are an average of 37 young lives that are lost each year from being left in unattended cars. 37!!! More than half of these kids are under the age of one. This is way to many kids. ONE CHILD is way too many. We all need to help to our part to protect our kids while they are in cars. Summer temperatures can be lethal to young kids who can suffer from heatstroke within minutes.
Make Sure To Never Leave Your Child In The Car
It’s easy to say, that could never happen to me. But accidents happen. So be proactive and follow the ACT set up by automakers, to prevent heatstroke. Here is what ACT stands for.
- Avoid: Avoid heatstroke-related injury and death by never leaving your child alone in a car, not even for a minute. And make sure to keep your car locked when you’re not in it so kids don’t get in on their own.
- Create Reminders: Create reminders by putting something in the back of your car next to your child such as a briefcase, a purse or a cell phone that is needed at your final destination. This is especially important if you’re not following your normal routine.
- Take Action: If you see a child alone in a car, call 911. Emergency personnel want you to call. They are trained to respond to these situations. One call could save a life.
Also take a look at this video which will remind you to look before you lock.
For more information about heatstroke prevention, and to help spread awareness, visit www.autoalliance.org/heatstroke.