With the heat expected to remain at or above 100 degrees in the coming days parents of small children need to take extra steps to ensure everyone gets out of the vehicle when they reach their destination.
According to AAA Kansas Manager of Public and Government Affairs Shawn Steward, nearly 950 pediatric vehicular heatstroke deaths have occurred across the nation since 1998. This includes 14 cases in the state of Kansas.
Steward says there are several reasons why these deaths occur each year, the top reason being that a parent simply forgot their child was in the car.
Steward says many of those victims who died from heat illnesses were only in the vehicle for a short period of time.
Steward adds it is very important to also lock the car once everyone is out as roughly six percent of heat illness victims gained access to and were playing in an unattended car when they succumbed to heat illness.
For when you are in the vehicle, Steward says there are several helpful tricks that will remind parents to check the backseat before they exit the vehicle. This includes putting items such as purses, jackets or wallets next to the car seat — forcing you to look back and check the seat in question. Another tip is to put a stuffed animal in a car seat when the child isn’t riding with you and bring that to the front passenger seat when the child is buckled.
For more helpful tips and information, visit ClubAlliance.AAA.com.
