During these hot summer months, keeping your child safe around closed, hot vehicles is a major concern. New campaigns across our nation are being launched in an effort to help further spread awareness on this topic. One such campaign has recently been started in Arizona.
These campaigns believe that the key to prevention is knowledge. Cars pose real threats to children who are trapped in them. When a car is parked outside in the sun it is likely to reach temperatures 20 to 30 degrees warmer than the air temperature (KFYI, 2015).
The best way to prevent forgetting your child in a hot vehicle this summer is to find ways to remember they’re there with you in the first place. Help remind yourself by following some of these key tips and tricks:
* Place an item you will need at your destination – such as your phone or wallet – in the back seat next to your child’s car seat.
* Call 911 if you see a child left alone in a vehicle. Act fast to save a life!
* Keep a memento of your child, such as a stuffed animal, in your child’s car seat. When you place your child in their car seat, move the memento to the front passenger seat as a visual reminder.
* Before you start your car, activate an alert on your phone for your expected time of arrival. When you hear the alarm sound you will be reminded to check your back seat.
Some stores across our nation are also stepping up in an effort to lower the number of deaths that occur due to entrapment in hot vehicles. For example, Bashas’ has begun putting up signs at the entrances to all Bashas’ and Food City stores as a reminder to customers to check if they have everyone they came with with them.
Help keep your child safe this summer. For more information on child safety, visit www.safekids.org