LANCASTER, Pa. — As the first heat wave of the year arrives this week, a Lancaster County agency is reminding parents and caregivers about the danger of leaving kids unattended in hot cars.
Vehicular heatstroke is one of the leading causes of non-crash, vehicle-related death for children ages 14 and under in the United States, the Municipal Emergency Services Authority of Lancaster County said Tuesday in a press release.
Since 1998, when safety advocates first began tracking vehicular heatstroke, the condition has killed more than 965 children, MESA said.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an average of 37 children die annually because of vehicular heatstroke.
Each death was preventable, according to MESA.
- More than half (52.6%) of these tragedies occur when a child is “forgotten” and left in a hot car. A busy parent or caregiver may unintentionally forget that a quiet or sleeping child is in the back of the vehicle.
- More than half (58%) of these heatstroke deaths occur at home.
- Nearly one-third of these tragedies occur with children under one year of age.
Why are hot cars so unsafe? Internal vehicle temperatures can rise quickly and become up to 50 degrees warmer than outside air temperatures. So even if it’s a cool day outside, a vehicle may still pose a threat to a child. A child’s body temperature increases three to five times faster than an adult’s.
Parents and caregivers are urged once they park to STOP, LOOK, LOCK:
- Make it a habit to look in the back seat every time when getting out of a car.
- Never leave a child in a vehicle unattended, even for a minute.
- Always lock the car and put the keys out of reach of children.
Warning signs of heatstroke include:
- Red, hot and moist or dry skin
- No sweating
- A strong rapid pulse or a slow weak pulse
- Nausea
- Confusion
- Acting strangely
If a child exhibits any of these signs after being in a hot vehicle, quickly spray the child with cool water or with a garden hose — never put a child in an ice bath. Call 911 or a local emergency number immediately.
