Traveling Safely With Baby
According to the latest research from the National SAFE KIDS campaign, at least 25 children die each year after being left in a hot car.
The temperature inside a parked car can exceed 122ºF within 10 to 15 minutes on a typical summer day in Alabama. Within only a few minutes, it will get so hot that a child inside the car could suffer from heat stress, heat stroke, dehydration, shock and even death. |
| "Think of your parked car as an oven," says Jennifer Tolle, executive director of Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina and co-chair of the NC Child Fatality Task Force. "Your car becomes like an oven in a matter of minutes on a hot summer day. You should no more leave your child in the car, even with the windows rolled down, than you should allow your child to sit in the oven in your home."
|
 |
To keep your kids safe, follow these tips:
- Always place something in the back seat that you can't get out without -- such as your purse or wallet. That way when you go to get your purse, you will be reminded to get your baby, too.
- Use a visual reminder -- such as a stuffed animal -- that the baby is in the car. Place the stuffed animal in the carseat when it is not in use and in the front seat when the baby is in the car seat.
- Always keep your car doors locked even when the car is in the garage and keep the keys out of your children's reach. Children may play in the car and can become trapped when they’re not strong enough to open the doors.
- Check the temperature of child safety seats and seat belts before buckling kids. The metal can become hot enough to cause burns.
- Call 911 immediately if you find a child left alone in a parked car or your child becomes locked in your car. The child’s life may depend upon it.
- Ensure that children drink plenty of fluids and carry water with you when traveling with children.
- Never leave a child alone in a car even with the windows down.
- Never leave a child alone in the car – even in your own driveway. When you get home from shopping or from a trip, get your kids in the house and then unpack the car. If you leave your kids in the car while you go inside first, it is easy to get distracted and forget they are still in the car.
- Ensure all children leave the car when you have reached your destination – COUNT HEADS!
- If your kids are in daycare make sure that they have a good plan to make sure kids aren't left in a car or van.
- Make sure your children never have access to your keys.
|
| Protect your children, and don't leave them alone in a car. It sounds simple, but it happens all too often. Even if you are just running into a store or to see a friend for a few minutes, NEVER leave your children in the car. |
|