One of the biggest weather related risks during the summer months is the possibility of a child dying in a vehicle from heat stroke.
The following are basic safety recommendations:
- Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle. Not even for a minute!
- If you see a child unattended in a hot vehicle, call 911 immediately!
- If a child is missing, always check the pool first, and then the car, including the trunk.
- Be sure that all occupants leave the vehicle when unloading. Don’t overlook sleeping babies.
- Always lock your car and ensure children do not have access to keys or remote entry devices.
- Teach your children that vehicles are never to be used as a play area.
- Keep a stuffed animal in the car seat. When the child is put in the seat, place the animal in the front with the driver.
- Or, place your purse or briefcase in the back seat as a reminder that you have your child in the car.
- Make “look before you leave” a routine whenever you get out of the car.
- Ensure your child’s school and/or child care provider will call you if your child does not show up for school.
The above is an excerpt adapted from the article, Beat The Heat, Check The Back Seat! on the NOAA web site.