Already this year, at least 9 children have died after being left alone in a hot car. According to the National Safety Council, these numbers are expected to rise.
Since 1998, it is estimated that at leas 615 heatstroke deaths of children left in vehicles have occurred, according to San Francisco’s State University’s Department of Geosciences. That is an average of 38 deaths per year. More than half of these children are under the age of 2.
Heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths for children under 14, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Children are especially susceptible to heatstroke because their bodies cannot regulate temperature as well as an adults. An infant can suffer from heatstroke even if the temperature outside is as low as 57 degrees.
Never leave your child in a hot car and take the necessary precautions to make sure you don’t do it on accident. Check out our blog to learn these simple tips.
Source: USAToday