MOUNT
LAUREL, N.J., May 1, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Today marks National Heatstroke Prevention Day, and
in recognition, JPMA Cares and Safe Kids Worldwide (SKW) are
reminding parents, caregivers, and neighbors about the dangers of
heatstroke and sharing strategies to prevent child injuries and
deaths in hot vehicles.
Since 1998, an alarming 969 children have been killed in hot car
tragedies—an average of 37 children each year. Thousands more have
survived with varying types and severities of injury. These
tragedies have occurred regardless of parent or caregiver
education, profession, income, and other demographics, and all
could have been prevented.
Heatstroke occurs when the body is unable to cool itself quickly
enough. Young children are particularly at risk, since a child's
body heats up three to five times faster than an adult's. When a
child's internal temperature reaches 104 degrees Fahrenheit, major
organs begin to shut down, and when their temperature reaches 107
degrees, the child can die.
Hot car deaths have occurred when the outside temperature was
below 60 degrees, because vehicle interiors become much hotter than
outside temperatures. Research shows the temperature inside a car
can heat up 19 degrees in just 10 minutes. Cracking the windows
does not slow the heating process or significantly decrease the
maximum temperature of a vehicle.
"Half of hot car deaths occur when children are inadvertently
left in vehicles by caregivers, and these cases typically follow a
change in routine," said JPMA Director of Child Passenger Safety
Joe Colella. "With easy behavioral
changes, parents, caregivers, and neighbors can prevent these
horrible tragedies."
A common scenario is that a parent may intend to drop a child
off at daycare. Once on their way, the parent begins thinking about
driving or the many things on their to-do list. If routines have
changed, the parent is tired or stressed, or there are other
distractions, the parent may head directly to work or home. Without
a visual cue, they unknowingly leave the child in the vehicle.
"Safe Kids Worldwide, JPMA Cares, and other injury prevention
groups are committed to ending these preventable tragedies to
babies and young children," said SKW President Torine Creppy. "Whether you are a parent, a
caregiver, or a concerned bystander, we're calling on everyone to
be part of the solution and help save lives."
Beyond the children inadvertently left in vehicles, a quarter of
hot car deaths occur when a small child enters a vehicle on their
own, the door closes, and the child becomes trapped in the vehicle.
Parents, caregivers, neighbors, and bystanders can prevent hot car
deaths with the following steps:
- Never leave a young child alone in a car, not even for a
minute.
- Look before you lock—develop a habit to check the rear seat
each time you park the car.
- Lock your vehicle's doors, and keep your keys and key fobs out
of children's reach. Ask your neighbors to do the same.
- Create reminders. Put something in the back of your car that
you'll need at your final destination such as a phone, briefcase,
or purse.
- Arrange for your childcare provider to contact you right away
if your child hasn't arrived as scheduled.
- If you see a child alone in a car, call 911. Emergency
personnel wants you to call. They are trained to respond to these
situations, and one call could save a life.
For more heatstroke prevention information and useful tips,
visit safekids.org/heatstroke or
jpmacares.org/car-seat-safety-tips.
About JPMA Cares
JPMA Cares is the philanthropic arm of the Juvenile Products
Manufacturers Association (JPMA) and the broader baby and
children's products industry. As a 501(c)(3) charitable
organization, JPMA Cares aims to create better outcomes for infants
and toddlers by reducing preventable injuries and deaths and
providing families in need with donations of time, talent, and
product. Learn more and get involved at jpmacares.org.
About Safe Kids Worldwide
Safe Kids Worldwide is a
nonprofit organization working to reduce unintentional injuries to
children ages 0-14 and build equitable and sustained systems that
support injury prevention. For more information, visit
safekids.org.
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SOURCE JPMA Cares