Death Count Continues to Rise This Summer, Due to Kids Left Unattended in Motor Vehicles

The National SAFE KIDS Campaign, NHTSA and General Motors Warn Parents That Leaving Kids in Cars Can Be Deadly

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- At least 21 children have died this summer after being left unattended in hot, parked cars. Four of these deaths occurred this week. With seven weeks of summer to go, SAFE KIDS, NHTSA and General Motors remind parents that leaving children unattended in a vehicle can have deadly consequences.

From 1996 to the present, close to 200 children have died of heat-related injuries after being trapped inside parked cars. Most of the children were in child safety seats and left behind or forgotten by an adult, while others gained access to an unlocked car and could not get out.

"Temperatures rise rapidly in a vehicle, no matter whether it is parked in the shade or sun," said Dr. Jeffrey W. Runge, Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. "Children can't take that intense heat and can die in a matter of minutes. The real tragedy is that these deaths are totally preventable."

Recent research indicates that humidity makes a hot, closed vehicle even more dangerous to young children trapped inside. On a warm, sunny day, even at temperatures as mild as 60 degrees Fahrenheit, a closed vehicle can heat to a dangerous level in minutes, and children left in this environment can face serious injury or even death.

"No parent deliberately exposes their child to what becomes an oven-like temperature. The price they pay for this ignorance and absentmindedness is unimaginable," said Heather Paul, Ph.D., executive director of the National SAFE KIDS Campaign. "Our job is to convince parents that kids, vehicles and heat are a deadly combination."

At least eleven states have laws that address the issue of leaving children unattended in vehicles, but the laws vary in their provisions.

SAFE KIDS urges parents to be particularly vigilant about their children's safety this summer and offers the following safety precautions to combat heat- related injuries in cars:

  * Never leave your child unattended in a motor vehicle, even with a window
    open.
  * Teach children not to play in, on or around cars.
  * Always lock car doors and trunks and keep keys out of children's reach.
  * Watch children closely around cars, particularly when loading or
    unloading items.
  * Ensure that all children exit the vehicle at your destination.
  * Don't overlook sleeping infants.
  * Place an unmistakable reminder of a child's presence where you'll be
    sure to see it before you leave the vehicle.  For example, place a
    diaper bag right next to you, your briefcase or your lunch bag.
  * Check the temperature of child safety seats and seat belt buckles before
    restraining your child.

Car trunks can also be especially hazardous. In very hot weather, within minutes a child trapped in a trunk can suffer a heat stroke that leads to permanent disability or even death. Keep these safety precautions in mind:

  * Keep the trunk of your car locked at all times, especially when parked
    in the driveway or near the home.
  * Keep rear fold-down seats closed to help prevent kids from getting into
    the trunk from the passenger area of a car.
  * Put car keys out of children's reach and sight.
  * Be wary of child-resistant locks. Teach older children how they can
    unlock the door if they become trapped in a motor vehicle.

For the third year in a row, SAFE KIDS and General Motors are conducting a national public awareness campaign aimed at educating parents and caregivers about the dangers of leaving children unattended in motor vehicles. The Never Leave Your Child Alone initiative includes brochures in English and Spanish that deliver potentially lifesaving information. Brochures can be downloaded at www.safekids.org and www.gmability.com or ordered by calling 866-700-0001 (press/choose option number 2).

The National SAFE KIDS Campaign is the first and only national nonprofit organization dedicated solely to the prevention of unintentional childhood injury -- the number one killer of children ages 14 and under. More than 300 state and local SAFE KIDS coalitions in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico comprise the Campaign.