Keep Children Safe In and Around Vehicles
As of January 1, 2002, California adopted a state law the Unattended Child in Motor Vehicle Act “Kaitlyn’s Law”, (CA Vehicle Code Sections 15620, 15630, 15632), to outlaw leaving children unattended in a vehicle. If a child aged 0-6 years is left unattended in the vehicle, the responsible adult will be fined $100. Eleven states have adopted specific laws regarding not leaving children unattended in motor vehicles, and 12 more have proposed a law.
Be especially careful about keeping children safe in and around cars during busy times, schedule changes, periods of crisis, or holidays. There are an alarming number of children who have been injured or killed after being left alone in or around vehicles. According to Janette Fennell, founder of KIDS AND CARS, at least 213 children died as a result of non-traffic incidents in 2005, the largest number of deaths in a single year. “Backover” incidents injure or kill over 2,500 children each year with over 70% of these incidents involving an immediate family member. Another disturbing trend we see emerging is that children are being killed as vehicles slowly move forward in driveways and parking lots.
Some real-life scenarios where children were injured or killed, include:
- Children let themselves into an unlocked parked car and lock themselves in or put the car in gear;
- The caretaker unknowingly leaves the child behind (e.g., parent forgets to bring the child to child care and the child is left in the car while the parent works or the child is left in the vehicle after a field trip) and dies of heat stroke;
- The child is intentionally left alone in the car while the caretaker engages in another activity (e.g., runs an errand, drops a child off at school) and is abducted, strangled by a power window or sets the vehicle in motion; or
- The child is behind the car when the car is backing out of the driveway and, because they cannot be seen, the child is run over.
To avoid this from happening you can:
- Tell parents about the dangers of leaving children alone in or around vehicles.
- Post a KIDS AND CARS poster ( HYPERLINK www.KidsAndCars.org)
- Keep car keys out of reach of children and keep vehicles locked, even in the driveway and garage.
- Ask your child care provider to call you if your child, who is expected at child care is not dropped off within 1-2 hours of the expected arrival time. Be sure to let the child care provider know if your child will not be attending child care as normally scheduled.
- Ensure that children are not left unattended in vehicles.
- Be sure all children are accounted for before moving a vehicle or exiting a vehicle.
For more information about this issue contact KIDS AND CARS at www.KidsAndCars.org.
Safely on the Move (866)700-7686 www.safelyonthemove.sdsu.edu.
Sources:
- CBS News, The Early Show, Consumer Watch New York, July 1st, 2005, “Never Leave Kids Alone in the Car” www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/07/21/earlyshow/living/ConsumerWatch/main710550.shtml
- C. McLaren, J. Null, and J. Quinn Heat Stress from enclosed vehicles: Moderate Ambient Temperatures Cause Significant Temperature Rise in Enclosed Vehicles. Pediatrics 2005;116;109-112 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2004-2368 ggweather.com/heat/index.htm
- Statistics, KidsAndCars.org
About The Article
This information provided by San Diego State University Foundation.
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