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:

1. 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

    

2. 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

    

3. Statistics, KidsAndCars.org

   About The Article
   This information provided by San Diego State University Foundation.

A newborn baby is unable to regulate their body temperature and will often need to be wearing warm clothes no matter what the temp is outside. Inside, in air conditioning they can get too warm. Older babies will normally not need any extra layers on while inside the house, but when going outside the house an extra layer on very cold days won’t hurt your baby. Since a big part of the surface area on your baby is on their head, this is where they can lose the most heat. When you go out you should put a hat on your baby’s head to help him keep warm.

When it comes to layering, you don’t necessarily need a lot of layers. Get an onesie and warm outfit while inside, a jacket or warm baby jumpsuit, which many times comes with a hat attached when you run out of the house. Even if your baby is not wearing shoes, make sure to have him in socks and take an extra pair of socks with you just in case your baby gets wiggly during a diaper change.

During the summer months, an older baby can overheat easily. Unlike when they get cold and get fussy, when a baby gets hot he will probably just fall asleep, and you may not know that he is too warm. Dress you baby in light material, onesies and little jumpers that are not too tight. Let him have room to move and not be too bundled up. In the summer, if you are warm your baby is probably warm too. Don’t dress your baby in something you wouldn’t want to be in.

Every baby has his own level of comfort that you will eventually learn. He will also develop ways of telling you as he gets older that he is too hot or too cold, sometimes by crying, others by tugging at clothes. Learn to watch your baby’s signs, listen to his cries and you will be able to tell when your baby’s body temperature is too hot or too cold.