Technology Can Save Babies Left Alone In Hot Cars: NJ Officials

EDISON, NJ — Two weeks after a 22-month-old baby was found deceased in a car at a South Jersey train station, a New Jersey Congressman is calling for the mandatory use of technology in automobiles to prevent heatstroke deaths.

Rep Frank Pallone (D-6) even offered a demonstration of technologies that can be used to help prevent future tragedies following a press conference held on Thursday afternoon.

“No child should lose their life from being trapped in a hot car,” said Pallone, who was joined by safety advocates, local law enforcement, members of the medical community, and companies that have developed safety technology. “Technologies exist today that can end these senseless tragedies by alerting drivers to the presence of a child in their vehicle or reminding them to check the backseat before leaving their car. Regrettably, these sorts of technologies have not been widely deployed. It’s passed time for carmakers to install these lifesaving technologies so that no more children lose their lives in hot cars.”

IEE Sensing and Hyundai then gave demonstrations of technology that can be used to help prevent future tragedies, such as the one in which a child was locked inside a hot car at the Lindenwold Train Station in Camden County on Aug. 16.

IEE offers retrofitted technology known as VitaSense. VitaSense alerts a vehicle’s warning systems when a child is left in that vehicle, according to the congressman’s office. In the video below, a father who forgets his child in his car receives an alert on his cell phone that a child has been left unattended in his vehicle.

Hyundai’s Rear Occupant Alert system detects if a rear door was opened or closed before starting the car. The driver receives a message in the gauge cluster to check the rear seats for anything that shouldn't be left behind.

These technologies would be required under the Hot Cars Act, which was introduced at the federal level in June. The act would require vehicles across the country to be equipped with such safety features. They exist, but have not been widely deployed, Pallone said.

These technologies seemingly could’ve helped the child that was left in the car in Lindenwold. Lindenwold police received a 911 call at about 3:38 p.m. on Aug. 16, alerting them that a child had been left alone in the car.

Arriving officers found the baby unresponsive in her car seat with the passenger window broken, according to the Camden County Prosecutor's Office. She was pronounced deceased at the scene at 3:54 p.m.

Read more here: Young Child Found Dead In Car At NJ PATCO Station: Officials

Charges have not been filed in the case, and authorities have not officially said how long the child was locked in the car, although one report indicated it was longer than six hours.

“We must take concrete action to prevent children from dying of heatstroke in hot cars. I applaud Congressman Pallone’s efforts to pass meaningful legislation that will save children’s lives. As Sheriff, I’ll continue my work in the community to increase knowledge and awareness about the dangers of hot cars,” Middlesex County Sheriff Mildred S. Scott said.

"Compounding the utter devastation of children dying in hot cars is the fact that technological solutions are readily available. Yet, automakers who are very aware of these deaths are not including these lifesaving systems in every new vehicle. It is incomprehensible. These detection and alert systems are a lifeline for small children who cannot protect themselves," said Janette Fennell, founder and president of KidsAndCars.org.

According to Kids and Cars, 37 children have died in hot cars this year. Read more here: Lakewood Woman Charged In Death Of Child Left In Car

Since 1998, more than 830 children have died after being left unattended in hot cars, according to noheatstroke.org. A total of 429 (53.8 percent) of those deaths are a result of the child being forgotten by their caregiver. In 151 (18.9 percent) of those cases, the child was knowingly left in the car. In 209 cases (26.2 percent), the child gained access to the car on their own, while the other 1 percent of reported cases are categorized as unknown.

Police have previously provided the following tips for parents or grandparents driving with children in the backseat on a hot day:

For Parents and Caregivers: Remind yourself that the child is in the car.

• Place a briefcase, purse, or cell phone next to the child's car seat so that you'll always check the back seat before leaving the car.
• Call your spouse or another caregiver to confirm you've dropped your child off.
• Have your daycare provider call you if your child doesn't arrive.
• Write a note and place it on the dashboard of your car, or set a reminder on your cell phone or calendar.

For Bystanders: Actions to take if you see a child alone in a vehicle:

• Always make sure the child is okay and responsive. If not, call 911 immediately.
• If the child appears to be okay, attempt to locate the parents or have the facility's security or management page the car owner over the PA system.
• If the child is not responsive and appears to be in distress, attempt to get into the car to assist the child.

See related: 30th Child Dies In Hot Car; Safety Advocates Call For Legislation