New Program Will Protect Kids Left In Hot Cars In Strongsville

STRONGSVILLE, OH — At least 32 children have died this year from heatstroke after being left in a locked, hot car, according to the National Safety Council. To prevent tragedy from striking in Strongsville, the police department has launched a new initiative called "Look Before You Lock."

As part of the program, when someone requests help installing a child seat, officers will also provide them with a rearview mirror card hanger that tells drivers to check their backseat before getting out of the car. The cards will also be available for pick-up at the Strongsville Police Station.

Officers will also talk to anyone that sells child safety seats in the city. Those retailers will be asked to display a rearview mirror card rack in the area where the child seats are sold.

In 2018, 53 children, a record number, died after being left in hot cars. Between 1998 and now, there have been 20 hot car deaths in Ohio.

"There are many reasons why these events happen such as being distracted from a busy day or exhausted from lack of sleep and/or routines that may have changed," Strongsville police said in a statement.

Children are at particular risk for heatstroke because their bodies heat up faster than an adult's body. Quiet children can cause forgetfulness in new parents, police said. Creating routine reminders is an effective way to protect children. Here are tips from Strongsville police.

• Keep a stuffed animal in a child's car seat when it's empty. When the child is in the seat, put the stuffed animal in the front passenger seat as a visual reminder.
• If your daily routine has been altered, try to note that and remind yourself to check on your child.

If you spot a child left alone in a car on a hot day:

• Don't wait more than a few minutes for the driver to return. Contact police and ask for help.
• "Good Samaritan" laws offer legal protection for people that help in emergency situations
• Don't worry about getting involved in someone else's affairs — "protecting children is everyone's business," police said.