Lexlee's Kids Reminds You to Check Your Back Seat! | Families

When a child is left in a vehicle, or worse, dies, people are outraged!  “How could you forget your child in the car?”  That is the million-dollar question.  It seems to happen more, during the summer months and as families get busier.  49 children died in 2010 as a result of being left in a vehicle, and June 2011 marked the 500th child vehicular heat stroke death; this is not a milestone to be celebrated, but one to call caregivers to action!

Most people find it hard to understand, but it could happen to anyone.  The most dangerous mistake a parent or caregiver could make is to think it could never happen to them!  In more than 50% of the cases, the person responsible for the child’s death unknowingly left the child in the vehicle, and they were loving and protective parents.  It has happened to a teacher, pediatrician, dentist, postal clerk, social worker, police officer, nurse, clergyman, electrician, accountant, solider, assistant principle and even a rocket scientist!

Many factors play into why or how children are left in vehicles.Juggling multiple kids, working a full time job, taking care of the house, experiencing a change in routine, stress, fatigue or a baby sleeping peacefully in their car seat could lead to a child being forgotten in a vehicle.  “Memory is a machine and it is not flawless.  Our conscious mind prioritizes things by importance, but on a cellular level, our memory does not.  If you are capable of forgetting your cell phone, you are potentially capable of forgetting your child. (David Diamond, Professor of Molecular Physiology, University of South Florida). 

Yes, your child is your most prized possession and is difficult to forget, but we are all human and life can sometimes make you do things that are considered to be out of the ordinary.   All we can do is recognize the problem, provide tips to decrease the likelihood of forgetting a child in a vehicle and clear up the misconception of “I’m just running in for a second.” That second could turn into minutes or longer if something unexpected stands in the way of you returning to your child, and what if someone tries to break into your vehicle…with your child inside!

So, here is a little science to further bring the point home:  A child’s body temperature rises 3-5 times faster than an adult’s does.  Even with the windows cracked, the temperature inside a parked car can reach 125 degrees in just minutes.  Tinted windows do not significantly slow the heating process, and makes it difficult for a bystander to see a child who has been left in a vehicle.

Kidsandcars.org is working to make it a requirement that all vehicles come equipped with an alarm that would alert the driver if a child has been left in the vehicle.  There are also products in the works that would do the same thing.  Stay tuned for more information in the future!  In the meantime, here are some tips to help you remember that you have precious cargo on board:

• Never leave a child alone in or around a vehicle, not even for a moment!
• Put something you will need on the floorboard in the back seat of your vehicle (phone, purse, briefcase).  Secure the items, so they do not become projectiles.
• “Look before you Lock”, get in the habit of checking the back seat before leaving the vehicle.
• Keep a photo of your child in the front of the vehicle.
• Set alarm reminders on your phone, at your desk and have someone call you to check and see if you made it safely to drop your child off.
• If you see a child left in a vehicle, get involved!  Call 911, if the child looks hot, sick or unconscious get them out quickly as possible.

Do you think it’s possible for you to forget your child in a vehicle?  What about someone you trust to drop your child off?  What do you do to prevent forgetting your child in the vehicle?  Join hands with Lexlee’s Kids in caring for your kid’s safety. If you have questions or comments about vehicle or child safety, contact Lexlee’s Kids at 225.372.3991.