"Child Dies After Being Left in Hot Car". This headline causes parents everywhere to cringe. It is so preventable, so needless. So who are these people that carelessly leave children in the back of hot cars? I was surprised to learn that although some can be attributed to day care workers or drug abusers, the majority of the incidents occur under the supervision of otherwise responsible parents.

It's not that hard to believe. We are running around, trying to manage the details of our lives. We misplace our keys, leave the coffee mug on the roof of the car and forget to bring snacks to the play date - AGAIN. Is it that hard to believe that we could inadvertently leave a sleeping child in the back - especially, if you are toting around your little one during a time that is not typically routine? I don't think so.

What's so disturbing is how quickly a car heats up. According to the Center for Disease Control, an outside temperature of 100 degrees can heat a car to 140 degrees in fifteen minutes. Even 85 degree temperatures can heat a car to 120 degrees in 30 minutes. You can see how quickly the situation can become critical.

I came up with a quick and easy method for remembering babies in the back seat. HOT stands for:

H = HIDE Your Keys in safe place AWAY from Kids
O = Don't OVERLOOK your child. Place your purse or diaper bag in the back seat with your baby.
T = TEACH Your Child not to Play in or around cars and TELL your caregivers not to transport your infant or toddler without specific permission from mom or dad

I also found a great device that you can order on line that alerts you to your sleeping child before leaving the vehicle. It is called ChildMinder (http://www.babyalert.info/products.php). This device is attached to a clip that is on your child's car seat. The smart clip communicates with your key alarm unit if the parent/caregiver walks 15 meters or more from the car. It's available online for $59.95.

With over 385 deaths attributed to kids left in hot cars, this summer, when Texas temperatures are topping out at 107 degrees, take a moment to take a peek in the back seat - just to be sure there is not a baby stowing away.

1 Comments

ToyfulSweetartMavMOM said:

Call Me Old Fashioned, That is just crazy! I never was too busy, distracted, forgetful, whatever the excuse or thoughts to forget my child was in the back seat of the automobile I was driving...Never! I can't believe this happens and I don't understand why it happens.

August 16, 2008 5:32 PM

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