Heat stroke poses death risk to children in hot cars

A report byKidsAndCars.org says warm weather is capable of causing tragic death incident from heat stroke if children are left in hot cars.

According to the report, 38 children die of heat stroke each year in U.S. alone after being left in a hot car, citing recent cases in Alabama and Kentucky.

“On average, while it may be hard to imagine, many deaths have occurred when over-stressed parents forgot that their children were in the backseat”, US based, consumerreport said.

The report explained that the incident often occur when there is a change in driver’s routine, stress, or a sleeping baby in the back and a parent or caregiver forgets that a child is in the car.
Besides, some people knowingly leave children “just for a minute” not realizing how quickly the temperature in a car can rise to dangerous levels.
Consumer Reports’ Director of Operations, Auto Test Center, Jennifer Stockburger said: “Even if it is only 70 degrees outside, a car can quickly heat to more than 120 degrees.”
She said that researchers are working on devices such as weight sensors or heartbeat monitors to detect the presence of a child in the backseat, but nothing currently exists to warn the driver that a child has been left behind.

“Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle, not even for a minute. Set up cell-phone reminders for yourself to be sure you’ve gotten the children safely to their destination.

Check the car to make sure that all occupants leave the vehicle or are carried out when unloading. If you lock the door with a key, rather than with a remote, it would force that one last look in the car before leaving it.

Always lock your car and keep keys and remotes away from children.

To serve as a reminder, keep a stuffed animal on the front passenger seat when carrying a child in the backseat.

Place something in the backseat that you would need, such as a purse, briefcase or cell phone,” the report said.