Child Safety & Parenting
How Could We Forget? Preventing Tragic Child Deaths in Hot Cars
Child Safety Alert: Remembering Our Precious Cargo in Texas, Florida, and Washington
In three states — Texas, Florida, and Washington — authorities have confirmed the heartbreaking news of three young children dying after being found alone in cars.
This year, Jan Null, a Californian meteorologist who tracks these occurrences, observed and recorded the six reported cases of children dying in hot cars. This figure is twice as many compared to the same time frame as the previous year.
Southeast of Tacoma in Puyallup, Washington, authorities are investigating the death of a 1-year-old baby left in a car while her foster mother worked at a hospital. As per the latest reports, the police are trying to uncover the incident.
Last Wednesday, around 5 p.m., a child was unintentionally left in a car and was only found about nine hours later, unfortunately. As per Puyallup Police Captain Don Bourbon, a woman came across the child in the car and promptly transported the child to the hospital. Regrettably, the child tragically succumbed to the incident.
The NBC affiliate, KING, reports that MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup was where the Vehicle in question had been parked.
As it turns out, Bourbon had told King that the adoptive mother of the missing baby was preoccupied that morning and forgot she had the baby with her. This led the police to believe it was just a simple mistake.
The child’s death is a dreadful incident affecting not only the family but all those involved, expressed Bourbon to NBC News.
Samantha Boeth, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service, stated that temperatures in the region dropped to below 70 degrees Celsius on Wednesday. It has been previously discovered that the temperature inside a car can reach dangerous triple-digit levels, equivalent to a greenhouse, even on a day that only measures 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Looking into the death of a four-year-old boy found with a two-year-old girl in an unlocked car at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, authorities have begun an inquiry. A press release said this happened after a Houston weekend heat that went up to the 80s.
The second victim, a two-year-old, is expected to recover fully, according to police in a statement released after the incident. Sadly, the four-year-old victim was declared dead upon being taken to a nearby hospital by authorities.
Playing outside their residence, an adult suddenly found the children inside a car. To make matters worse, one of the children was discovered unconscious, leading authorities to take action immediately.
In Palm Bay, Florida, police disclosed that an unattended 11-month-old toddler was found in a parked vehicle on Sunday afternoon. The child had been alone for three hours and sadly did not survive.
The parents attended the funeral service, as the authorities report. The examination of the incident is presently underway.
The unfortunate event led Sheriff Mario Ojelo to issue a statement. He expressed his sorrow and conveyed his sympathies to the deceased’s family. Ojelo described the incident as lamentable.
Approaching 80 degrees Celsius on Sunday, the National Weather Service reported regional temperatures.
Daily Routines Being Disturbed Is The Main Cause of Children Being Unintentionally Left in Vehicles, Studies Suggest
Forgetting children in hot cars, leading to their deaths, often stems from disruptions in routine. Altering one’s usual pattern can interfere with concentration and memory, increasing the risk of dangerous situations. This is especially true when driving with children, as they may be quiet or asleep, causing drivers to overlook their presence in the car. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how daily interruptions affect memory and take steps to prevent the tragic outcome of leaving a child in a car.
Memory lapses resulting in leaving children in a car happen more often than one would think. Inconsistencies in a parent’s work schedule, an altered caregiving arrangement, or a sudden shift in routine can lead to confusion and forgetfulness. Even distractions like mobile devices or accompanying riders in the Vehicle can cause absentmindedness. Identifying these patterns and pursuing precautionary actions is essential to circumvent future occurrences.
The statistics of young ones who have died to heat exhaustion in cars are astonishing. Tragically, vehicle hyperthermia — commonly termed heat stroke — is the top contributor to accidental mortalities of kids under the age of fourteen involving automobiles. Nevertheless, heat stroke in preschoolers caused by sweltering cars is entirely precludable. As such, the person in charge of the child should carry a purse or wallet and position their phone or bag on the back seat with the youngster. With caution and attentiveness to potential risks that could interrupt daily routines, preserving the safety and welfare of children in vehicles is achievable.
Car-Check Precautions to Prevent Accidentally Leaving Your Kids in the Vehicle.
Caregivers may forget their child is still in the car, leading to unfortunate incidents where child heatstroke deaths occur. To avoid such tragedy, a simple yet effective tactic is to leave a personal item, such as a purse, bag, or phone, next to the child as a tangible reminder of their presence. This strategy helps prevent heat stroke in cars, which is the leading cause of non-accidental vehicular deaths for children under 14. Since children are often stuck in the back seat, caregivers must take extra measures to guarantee their safety is not compromised.
Making a consistent reminder system effectively prevents accidental abandonment of children in the car. Guardians should make it a routine to check the backseat before departing or set alerts on their smartphones to remind them. This habit can significantly mitigate the risk of leaving children unattended. Moreover, it’s vital to spread awareness about the hazards of car heat stroke and the precautionary steps that can be implemented to avert future tragedies.
Preventing the tragic deaths of children in hot cars requires educating others on the dangers of heat stroke and ways to avoid it. Thankfully, KidsAndCars.org is a valuable organization that offers essential tips to prevent such incidents, like creating a system of reminders using mementos in the backseat. By working together to increase awareness and implement prevention tactics, we can ensure that no more children suffer a similar fate.
Citation
- Kids and Car Safety (@KidsAndCars) / …. (n.d.) Retrieved May 31, 2023, from www.twitter.com/KidsAndCars
- Treating Vehicular Hyperthermia in Children. (n.d.) Retrieved May 31, 2023, from www.jems.com
- Vehicular heatstroke — Explore. (n.d.) Retrieved May 31, 2023, from www.facebook.com/hashtag/vehicularheatstroke/
- T Barnes CE114 Unit9Assignment — Automobile Safety Are …. (n.d.) Retrieved May 31, 2023, from www.coursehero.com
- KidsAndCars.org. (n.d.) Retrieved May 31, 2023, from www.givepulse.com/event/getGroupEvents/4287
- Three young children die in hot cars across the U.S., from https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/3-young-children-die-separate-hot-car-incidents-us-rcna86935
Originally published at https://www.newsbreak.com.
