National Heatstroke Prevention Day Is Upon Us

Since 1998, over 1,000 children have lost their lives from pediatric vehicular heatstroke. Just last year, 39 children died. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launches an annual awareness campaign to prevent these senseless tragedies from happening. Although most incidences of pediatric heatstroke occur during the hot summer months, heatstroke can happen in temperatures as low as 60 degrees. National Heatstroke Prevention Day is May 1^st; to learn more about how you can promote safety and prevent pediatric heatstroke from occurring, read the tips we have compiled below.

The Facts on Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke

According to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, or CDC, heatstroke is the most hazardous of all heat-related illnesses. Even on days that it feels cool outside, a vehicle’s interior temperature can increase at a shockingly rapid rate. For example, the temperature inside a car can rise by 20 degrees Fahrenheit within the first 10 minutes, even with a window cracked open. Here are a few additional facts from the NHTSA that are useful to know about pediatric vehicular heatstroke:

• Vehicular heatstroke-related death is preventable.
• Heatstroke begins when the body’s core temperature reaches about 104 degrees, overwhelming the thermoregulatory system. At 107 degrees, heatstroke becomes lethal.
• Heatstroke is a concern for individuals of all ages, but children are particularly vulnerable to experiencing severe-to-fatal complications. This is because their body temperature rises at a rate three to five times faster than an adult’s.
• Hot car deaths are the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths for children aged 14 and below.
• On average, 37 children die per year from vehicular heatstroke.
• The three primary scenarios in which these cases occur: 1. Children are forgotten in vehicles by parents or caregivers. 2. Children gain access to unlocked vehicles and become trapped inside, and 3. Children are knowingly left in vehicles by parents or caregivers.
• The “forgotten” scenario, or accidentally leaving a child in a vehicle unattended, accounts for more than half of all child hot car deaths. In approximately half of these cases, the child was on their way to childcare or preschool. While there are many potential factors at play in “forgotten” scenarios, one of the most common is a change in routine. Changes in routine render every parent or caregiver susceptible to making a mistake.

Ways to Protect Children from Heatstroke

While the symptoms of heatstroke vary, there are some general signs to keep an eye out for. These include red, hot, and moist or dry skin, absent sweating (even though the child is warm), a strong, rapid pulse or a slow, weak pulse, dizziness, throbbing headache, nausea, confusion, grouchiness, or strange behavior. To brush up on ways to prevent pediatric vehicular heatstroke, please refer to the NHTSA’s lifesaving tips below:

• NEVER leave a child in a vehicle unattended, not even for one minute.
• Make a habit of checking your entire vehicle, especially the backseat, EVERY time you exit the car.
• Always lock your car when you aren’t using it. Also, be sure to put the keys out of reach. Even if you don’t have a child of your own, a child in your neighborhood could get into your unlocked vehicle.
• Keep an item in the back seat, like a toy. Put the toy up front with you when your child is in the car seat to serve as a reminder. Or, put your purse or work bag in the back seat with the child.
• If you see a child in distress inside a vehicle, call 9-1-1 immediately and get help.

Another thing to keep in mind is that there are several technologies on the market that can aid in preventing hot car deaths. One example of this is a technology called SensorSafe, which alerts the driver via sound to indicate whether the child is still in the backseat after the engine has been turned off. There are many others on the market, and some vehicle manufacturers, like General Motors, offer protective technologies that are standard in select vehicle models.

By observing precautions and utilizing available safety technologies, we can get the number of yearly hot car deaths down to zero. To learn more about pediatric vehicular heatstroke and access useful resources, please visit the NHTSA’s campaign site at: https://www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/heatstroke. If you have a legal question or concern, someone at our firm can help. Contact a representative online now.

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