Prevent A Child Heatstroke Tragedy--Look Before You Lock

Temperatures continue to soar here in the Roseville area, and will remain hot for the foreseeable future. It is timely to talk about preventing child heatstroke deaths in cars.

For most parents and caregivers, it is unimaginable to leave a young child in the car during hot summer days. But it happens. 15 children have already died this year due to vehicular heatstroke. These tragedies can occur inadvertently, when a parent or caregiver strays from routine, is sleep deprived, or falters from any number of distractions, and a quiet or sleeping child is forgotten in the backseat.

The Look Before You Lock campaign from KidsAndCars.org provides important safety tips to remind parents how to prevent vehicular heatstroke.

1. Never leave children alone in or around cars; not even for a minute. 
   
2. Put something you'll need like your cell phone, handbag, employee ID or brief case, etc., on the floor board in the back seat.
3. Get in the habit of always opening the back door of your vehicle every time you reach your destination to make sure no child has been left behind.  This will soon become a habit.  We call this the “Look Before You Lock” campaign.
   
4. Keep a large stuffed animal in the child's car seat when it’s not occupied.  When the child is placed in the seat, put the stuffed animal in the front passenger seat. It's a visual reminder that anytime the stuffed animal is up front you know the child is in the back seat in a child safety seat. 
   
5. Make arrangements with your child’s day care center or babysitter that you will always call if your child will not be there on a particular day as scheduled.
   
6. Keep vehicles locked at all times; even in the garage or driveway and always set your parking brake.
   
7. Keys and/or remote openers should never be left within reach of children.
   
8. Make sure all child passengers have left the vehicle after it is parked.
   
9. When a child is missing, check vehicles and car trunks immediately.
   
10. If you see a child alone in a vehicle, get involved.  If they are hot or seem sick, get them out as quickly as possible.  Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.
    
11. Be especially careful about keeping children safe in and around cars during busy times, schedule changes and periods of crisis or holidays.
    
12. Use drive‐thru services when available. (restaurants, banks, pharmacies, dry cleaners, etc.)
    
13. Use your debit or credit card to pay for gas at the pump.