Kids and hot cars: a dangerous mix

As we move into the hottest months of the year, we remember how hot the inside of our cars can get. We burn our hands on the steering wheels, seat belts and seats. Imagine yourself trapped inside your car without the comfort and satisfaction of blasting air.

Unfortunately, this is the case for many children each year, especially around this time. On average, 37 children die each year from the heat of a car that is turned off. Many of these children are forgotten, but some manage to get trapped in trunks or locked in cars. In very few cases, they are deliberately left in cars because their caregivers intend to leave them for only a few minutes, but as you will see, every second counts.

As mentioned above, most of these incidents are more likely to occur during the summer or when it is hotter in your area. It is also more likely in areas where the general climate is warmer. So at this time of year it is more important than ever to raise awareness about the danger of hot cars. But heatstroke-related child deaths can really happen anytime, anywhere.

The reason the risk is always there is because children’s body temperature rises 3-5 times faster than typical adult body temperature, making children much more susceptible to heatstroke. Also, the temperature of cars can rise up to 20 degrees in 10 minutes, making children and unattended cars a dangerous mix. This also means that heatstroke can occur at outside temperatures as low as 57 degrees, even with the windows open and if the vehicle is parked in the shade.

Moral of the story: avoid leaving your child in the car at all costs. But sometimes if your children are young, it can be easy to forget them, as evidenced by the statistic that 87% of victims are 3 years old or younger. Experts attribute the abundance of younger victims to the fact that young children are out of the driver’s sight, but it may also be because they may not be able to speak due to their young age or the increased likelihood that the child is sleeping.

So what if you notice a child trapped in a car? Call the police immediately. Some states even have laws in place that protect you from criminal or civil charges if you open a window to rescue the child. However, it does not promise that it will not affect your Illinois car insurance, if it is your vehicle. Not all states have “Good Samaritan” laws, so proceed with caution and your best judgment.

Unfortunately, not all states have laws that explicitly make it illegal to leave your child in a car. And while a very low percentage of these child casualties is due to children being intentionally left in hot cars, the passage of legislation may bring more attention to this widespread problem and save lives.

But for now, it is crucial to raise awareness and remind parents to check their cars before dropping them off and remind children never to play near cars. Also, keep your eyes peeled and be ready to act if you come across a trapped child.