Officials Warning Parents of Dangers of Leaving Children In Vehicles

With temperatures getting warmer local and state officials are reminding parents to be extremely cautious about leaving children in hot cars because, while it may seem like common sense, statistics show that these deaths are on the rise in the US.
According to the safety organization, Kids and Cars, 52 children died in 2018 of hyperthermia as a result of being left in a hot car, a 21 percent increase over deaths in 2017. Kentucky State Police states that since 1998 there have been 25 child-related vehicular heatstroke deaths in the Commonwealth, with three of those in 2018, and include instances where a child has been forgotten in a car, accidentally locking themselves in a vehicle or, in a small number of cases, where a child has been intentionally left in a car.
KSP Spokesman Sgt. Josh Lawson says vehicular heat stroke is often misunderstood by the general public and a majority of parents are misinformed and would like to believe that they could never forget their child in a vehicle. He adds that in these fast-paced times it is easy for parents to get distracted and forget their child is in the car with them.
Sgt. Lawson notes that a child’s body heats up three to five times faster than that of an adult and when temperatures inside a car can rise 19 degrees in 10 minutes and infant could die of hyperthermia in just 15 minutes on a 75-degree day.
He states that in 2000 Kentucky passed “Bryan’s Law,” which makes a person liable for second-degree manslaughter or first-degree wanton endangerment for leaving a child younger than eight years of age in a motor vehicle where circumstances pose a grave risk of death. Sgt. Lawson expresses that the law was named after 11-month old Bryan Puckett, who died July 13, 1999, after being left in a hot car by his babysitter.
Caldwell County Sheriff Stan Hudson is also hoping to remind parents of the extreme danger of leaving children in a hot car and explains that another component to these tragic deaths is the inquisitive nature of a child. He notes that too often children will be playing outdoors and end up in a car, accidentally locking themselves inside, and in extreme summer heat a child can become incapacitated in a very short time.
Sheriff Hudson is recommending this tips to help keep your child safe this summer: never leave a child in an unattended car, even with the windows down; make it a habit of opening the rear door of the car every time you park to ensure no one is left inside – you can enforce this habit by placing an item that you can’t start your day without, such as a purse, employee badge, phone, etc in the back seat; when at home keep your vehicle locked at all times, even in the garage; never leave keys within reach of children; and if a child is missing immediately check the inside, floorboards and trunk of all vehicles in the area.
Officials remind everyone that while a person will face criminal charges for leaving a child in the car, the pain and guilt from making such a devastating mistake will last far longer. Local and state law enforcement are asking citizens to help them this summer by keeping an eye out for children left in vehicles on hot days and if you see an unaccompanied child in distress do not hesitate to call 911.

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