The inside of a car can heat up over 40 degrees higher than the outside temperature if the car is left out in the sun for an hour. After 90 minutes of being in the sun, that jumps up to 48 degrees higher. This means the inside of a car can potentially reach 138 degrees on a balmy day and the temperature outside is 90.
With the weather getting warmer, why are children being forgotten in cars? This tragedy is one that happens too often in the U.S.A. with 162 children dying from this in the last five years. Hot car pediatric deaths have a lot of terrifying statistics that are with them. There are also a few different reasons as to why this tragedy happens to children.
According to the KidsandCars Organization, there were five reported deaths from children being left in vehicles in the last month alone. The ages of these children were from ages three months, to five years. The same organization has said an average of 37 children die every year from being left in the car.
Summertime is the main time of the year for these tragedies. July is reportedly the worst month. According to NoHeatStroke.org, Texas has had the most hot car pediatric deaths from 1998 to 2021 with 134. Florida was ranked second with 99 deaths and California was third with 55 deaths. Oklahoma ranks 11th highest in the United States with 29 deaths.
The reasons for the children in cars being left in vehicles varies between each situation. The most common answer is the child’s guardian forgetting to take the child out of the car. Most of the children are three years old or younger, meaning they probably don’t have an understanding of how to unbuckle themselves and/or unlock the car to get out.
Many times, distraction or stress is a major player in this deadly game. Some guardians who have other things on their minds might forget their child in the car. Sometimes, the young children will get into the vehicles by themselves without parents knowing. When this happens, they could lock themselves in without knowing how to unlock the vehicle.
According to Carlson Law Firm, there is a new phenomenon called “Forgotten Baby Syndrome.” That refers to when parents “focus on future tasks instead of the moment,” and ultimately leave the child in the vehicle. It can also occur when the parent does something that is outside of their normal routine.
According to the website, “in many Forgotten Baby Syndrome cases, parents that don’t normally take their child to daycare or a babysitter will drive the same route to and from work every day. In these cases, the parent drives the normal route without thinking. Doing a task without thinking is called motor memory. When you do an activity using motor memory, it frees up space in your brain to think about the future tasks at hand. A quiet baby or small child in the backseat could easily be forgotten by a parent who is: A) checked out of the moment and B) focused on the future.”
There are many things a parent can do to avoid leaving their child in a vehicle.
- Keep a stuffed animal in the car. Put a stuffed animal in the front seat as a reminder that the child is in the back seat.
- Always check the front and back seat before leaving the vehicle. Something as simple as taking the time to double-check the vehicle may save the baby from heatstroke.
- Make it a habit to open the back door every time the car is parked. By opening the back door, the driver will see for sure if the baby is in the back seat.
- Leave the diaper bag in the front passenger’s seat. Diaper bags and babies are practically synonymous. Its presence should remind the driver that the baby is in the backseat.
- Place the car seat in the middle of the backseat. If the vehicle has the ability, then it will be easier to see the child.
- Be extra alert if after routine changes. While every driver should remain alert during driving, it can be easy to zone out when the drive is repetitive.
- Have the childcare provider call if the baby has not been dropped off. Make sure the childcare provider has both cell phone and work numbers.
- Avoid phone calls. A recurring narrative of the forgotten baby syndrome is a parent, guardian or other child care provider whose attention is focused on a phone call or a text.
Self-accountability. The best way to avoid leaving the child in the car is for the guardian to hold themselves responsible for the child’s safety. Make it a point to interact with the child.