One of the things that I really dread about summer are all the reports of babies and toddlers who die or are critically injured when a parent or caregiver inadvertently leaves them behind in a hot car. Often, it is hours before a child is discovered, and with internal temperatures reach 120 degrees, these babies are found too late to be saved.
Why does it happen? Overwhelmed or distracted drivers simply forget. Sometimes a change in routine is enough to do it. The parent that doesn’t usually drop the child off at daycare has to do it one time and forgets, driving straight to work.
A number of different experts and organizations have tried to come up with something that would save these babies. Conventional wisdom says to put something in the back with your child, such as a purse or backpack. When you go to retrieve the item, you will see your baby. It is funny how we automatically reach for a purse but not a child.
Getting enough sleep, leaving a big sign or a teddy bear on the passenger seat, setting an alarm on your phone to remind you to check your child, and having a second person who will check in can sometimes help. Many day care centers and schools have adopted a policy to notify parents within 10 minutes if a child does not make it on the premise. Babies left in a hot car can die in less than one hour.
Commercial devices, designed to prevent these tragedies have also hot the market. From car seats to gadgets, they are supposed to warn a parent or caregiver when a child is left alone in the carseat. Unfortunately, a review board of experts from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that these devices aren’t always reliable, and parents shouldn’t count on them to keep their babies safe.
The NHTSA recommends a “layered” approach, using several different strategies together.
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