Hot Weather and Hot Cars

With the hot weather fast approaching, making sure you check the back seat of your car before locking and leaving your car is a must! Many parents believe that this kind of situation can never happen to them, but all parents need to be on alert when it comes to this situation. 

According to an article in Parents Magazine, roughly 20 percent of children were left in a car by a parent who, for instance, thought they'd run a "quick" errand and came out to find out that their child had died. A child is at greater risk than an adult in a hot car. That's because a small body heats up three to five times faster than an adult's would in the same circumstance. The internal cooling system--sweating--isn't as effective in kids as it is in adults because an adult has more skin through which sweat can evaporate to cool the body, says Kate Carr, CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide. 

On a typical 70 degree day, a car can heat up very quickly. After 10 minutes of being turned off on a 70 degree day, a car can reach 89 degrees. After 20 minutes, it would be around 99 degrees, and after 2 hours, it would be close to 120 degrees. Many parents wonder how others can leave their children and forget they were there. In most instances, the child had fallen asleep, so there was no sound to remind the parent to take him out. And if a baby was in a rear-facing car seat in the backseat, there was also no visual cue: the baby's head might not have been visible over the top of the seat.

According to Parents Magazine, there are 7 ways not to forget your child is in the car. These ways include:

• Be extra alert if your routine changes. That's when the risk of unintentionally leaving your child in your car increases
• Put something of your child's like a toy, on the front seat
• Leave an item you'll need at your next destination in the backseat--like your purse, cell phone, or briefcase
• Place your child's car seat in the middle of the backseat rather than behind the driver. It's easier to see the kid. 
• It's crucial to set up a system with your child-care provider. If you don't plan to drop your child off that day, call them. If your child doesn't arrive as expected, have the caregiver call you. 
• Discuss the topic of hot-car deaths with every person who drives your child anywhere. This includes your partner, grandparents, and babysitters.
• Always "Look Before You Lock." Get in the habit of checking the backseat every time you get out of the car. 
• Finally, if you see any child in a car seat alone in the car, call 911. 

For more information on this topic, please visit http://www.parents.com/baby/safety/car/danger-of-hot-car-for-children/

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