Did you know that a child’s body heats up three to five times faster than an adult? It only takes a few short minutes before a child can become dangerously overheated.
Over the past few months, nine children have died while alone in a vehicle. Every year, more than 30 children die because they are left alone in a vehicle. In just ten minutes a car’s temperature can increase by 19 degrees and will continue to rise. There is no evidence that cracking windows helps prevent the temperature in vehicle interiors from reaching dangerous levels. In fact, sunlight beaming through a vehicle’s windows makes the car work like an oven.
IF THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS 101 THEN THE INSIDE OF A VEHICLE IS 140 DEGREES.
Follow these tips to prevent leaving a child in the car:
*Dial 911 immediately if you see an unattended child in a car. Emergency response professionals are trained to determine if a child is in trouble.
* Never leave a child in a vehicle, even with the window slightly open.
* Place items you will want to carry from the car on the floor or seat near the child; such as your cell phone, PDA, purse, briefcase, or whatever is to be carried from the car. This way the child is seen when the rear door is open to retrieve items.
*Set your cell phone or blackberry reminder to be sure you dropped your child off at day care.
* Set your calendar program, such as Outlook, to ask, “Did you drop off at daycare today?”
* Have a plan that if your child is late for daycare that you will be called within a few minutes. Be especially careful if you change your routine for dropping off little kids at day care.
* Do not allow children to play in any vehicle.
* Lock all vehicle doors and the trunk after everyone has exited the vehicle especially at home. Keep keys out of children’s reach.
* Check vehicles and trunks FIRST if a child goes missing.
CARS ARE NOT PLAYGROUNDS OR BABYSITTERS.
PLEDGE: I pledge to never leave my child in the car alone, even for a minute. If I see a child left alone in a car, I will call 911 immediately.
Are you thinking, “I would never leave my child in a car?” We are busy people…
we hurry…we can get distracted…accidents happen…this is one accident we don’t want to happen……it can be prevented.
“I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn’t fragile like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27
