Monday, July 02, 2012
Summer safety rules for kids and cars
Summer has finally arrived and it is a wonderful time to
enjoy being outdoors with your friends and family. The kids are out of school
and many of us will be taking time off from work, but we can never take a
vacation from safety.
Sadly, each year in the United States an average of 38
children die as a result of being unattended in a hot vehicle. This is a preventable
tragedy that is most commonly due to a change in routine where the parent or
caregiver forgets they have a child in the backseat. It can also occur when a
curious or adventurous child climbs into an unlocked car or trunk.
A study published in the Journal of the American Academy of
Pediatrics looked at how fast the temperature in the interior of a vehicle
would rise when the outside temperature was a moderate 72-96 degrees. The
researchers found that the interior of parked vehicles raised an average of 19
degrees in the first 10 minutes regardless of the outside temperature. After one hour
the temperature had increased by up to 50 degrees. Cracking the windows had little to no effect.
Please don’t let your child become a statistic. Follow these
simple rules to avoid the unimaginable:
• Never leave
infants, children or pets in a parked car, even if the windows are cracked
open.
• If you see a
child unattended in hot car call 911 immediately.
• To remind
yourself that a child is in the car, keep a stuffed animal in the car seat.
When the child is buckled in, place the stuffed animal in the front with the
driver.
• Place your
purse or brief case in the backseat near the child as a reminder.
• When leaving
your car, check to be sure everyone is out of the car. Do not overlook any
children who have fallen asleep in the car.
• Lock your
parked car so small children cannot climb inside.
Protect your child from harm and yourself from heartbreak.
By spending a few extra minutes for safety, this can be a summer a memorable one.
Cynthia Arpin, RN, is a Public Health Nurse with the Uncas Health District. This column should not replace advice
or instruction from your personal physician. If you want to comment on this
column or others, visit the Healthy Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs or e-mail Ms. Arpin or any of the Healthy Living
columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org
# posted by ----------------- @ 5:19 PM 
