Kids in Hot Cars is an Even Bigger Problem in Arizona
The official start of summer signals many things: pools open, vacations with family, and copious amounts of time spent outdoors with friends.
Summer also brings really high temperatures, and if you’re not careful, too much time outside can lead to adverse health effects, like heat stroke. While heat stroke can affect people of all ages, now is an especially important time to remind everyone that it can be really dangerous for children who are left unattended in hot cars.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports there are 37 children every year who die from heat stroke when left in cars. Since 1998, more than 970 children have died, and the crazy part is that these accidents would have been 100% preventable.
Think it couldn’t happen to you? Unfortunately, leaving children in hot cars is more common than you might think, and can happen to literally anyone (parent, grandparent, sitter, teacher, etc.).
How does this happen? By far, the most common reason is plain forgetfulness according to the organization, No Heat Stroke. Oftentimes, it’s something like a parent forgetting to drop their child off at daycare. Here’s how the common reasons kids are left in hot cars stack up:
- 52%: someone forgetting to take their kid out of the car
- 25%: children got access to a car and didn’t know how to get out
- 21%: someone knowingly left a child in a car
- 2%: unknown reasons
Even if you think you will only be a few minutes and it’s okay to leave your child in the car, think again. One of the reasons this can be so dangerous is because cars can heat up really quickly. About 80% of the rise in heat inside a car happens in the first 30 minutes.
Plus, it can get up to over 50 degrees hotter inside a car than outside it. In less than the time it takes to binge-watch your favorite show, your child could be exposed to an internal temperature of 150℉ when left inside a car.
The Problem Could Be Even More Severe in Arizona
You already know how hot it gets in Arizona. The Arizona Emergency Information Network says among all weather-related hazards, levels of extreme heat often cause the most deaths. Extreme heat happens when high heat temperatures exceed 90 degrees for 2-3 days.
Now consider that the greatest number of pediatric vehicular heat stroke deaths happen during the months of June, July, and August. In July, the average temperature in Tucson is 102℉. (Phoenix is 106℉.)Over 90% of the pediatric vehicular heat stroke deaths occur in temperatures below 100℉. Because the average temperature in July exceeds this, kids are at a much greater risk of heat stroke deaths in Arizona.
Sadly, between 1998-2023, there have been 43 deaths which makes Arizona the fourth highest state for the most child heat stroke deaths in vehicles.
Safety Tips: How Can You Keep Your Child Safe?
Simply put, there is never a justifiable reason to leave a child in a hot car unattended. Not even for a minute! When in doubt, always leave the car running. The main things you can do to prevent pediatric vehicular heat stroke are to never leave children unattended in vehicles, always check the backseat, keep cars locked, and call 911 if you see a child alone in a vehicle. Here are some additional tips to keep your child safe:
- Keep your car locked when you’re not using it and your keys away from children. That way they won’t be able to get into the car with the risk of not being able to get out in time. Also teach your children that cars are not a play zone.
- Take your child with you when you leave the car. Leave reminders for yourself to double check that your child is in the car, like putting a toy in the front seat or keeping something you need like a purse in the backseat. This forces you to take one last look in the car before walking away.
- According to the National Safety Council, it’s important to avoid distractions and make a routine that you can stick to. Make sure you take the time to check that you’re not leaving your child in the car. There is no safe amount of time to leave a child in a car, but you can prevent potential danger by double checking and being careful.
Take a Free Course to Educate Yourself About the Dangers
The National Safety Council is offering a free course that parents can take to educate themselves about the dangers of leaving kids in cars. One child that dies in a hot car is too many. Take the necessary precautions today to keep kids safe.
If you wish to discuss the specifics of your case in a free consultation with an experienced Tucson personal injury lawyer, please contact us today.