Children left in Cars and heatstroke
Children’s bodies overheat easily, and infants and children under 3 years old are at greatest risk for heat-related illness.
• KidsandCars.org shows that 87 percent of children who died from vehicular heatstroke are age 3 and younger.
• A child’s body absorbs more heat on a hot day than an adult’s does.
• High body temperatures can cause permanent injury or even death.
• Heatstroke begins when the core body temperature reaches about 104 degrees and the thermoregulatory
system is overwhelmed. A core temperature of about 107 degrees is lethal.
Symptoms of heatstroke: Warning signs vary, but may include;
• red, hot, and moist or dry skin
• no sweating
• a strong rapid pulse or a slow weak pulse
• a throbbing headache
• dizziness
• nausea
• confusion
• being grouchy or acting strangely
A vehicle heats up quickly, even with a window rolled down.
• A review of child heatstroke cases by NHTSA showed that heatstroke fatalities have occurred even in vehicles parked in shaded areas and when the air temperatures were 80 degrees F or less.
• Heatstroke can occur in temperatures as low as 57 degrees.
• On an 80 degree day, temperatures inside a vehicle can reach deadly levels in just 10 minutes.
It can happen to anyone.
• Change to According to San Francisco State University’s Department of GeoSciences, in 52 percent of cases the child was “forgotten” by the caregiver.
• In more than 29 percent of cases, a child got into the vehicle on their own.
You can help prevent unnecessary deaths.
• Never leave an infant or child unattended in a vehicle, even if the windows are partly open, or the engine
is running and the air conditioning is on;
• Don’t let children play in an unattended vehicle. Teach them a vehicle is not a play area;
• Make a habit of looking in the vehicle -front and back - before locking the door and walking away;
• Take steps to remember not to leave a child in a vehicle:
• Write yourself a note and place it where you’ll see it when you leave the vehicle.
• Place your purse, briefcase, or something else you’re sure to need in the back seat so you’ll be sure to
see a child left in the vehicle.
• Keep an object in the car seat, such as a stuffed toy. Once the child is buckled in, place the object where
the driver will notice it when he or she leaves the vehicle.
• Always lock vehicle doors and trunks and keep keys out of children’s reach. If a child is missing, check the vehicle first, including the trunk.
• Ask your childcare center to call you if your child doesn’t arrive on time for childcare.
• If you see a child alone in a hot vehicle, call 911 or you local emergency number immediately. If they are in distress due to heat, get them out as quickly as possible. Cool the child rapidly (not a nice bath but by spraying them with cool water or with a garden hose).
This is also a note to myself!!! Let help to share the information and kesedaran in order to save our lil ones life. And also, please be a more responsible individual, if you see an unattended child PLEASE do something!!! (....maybe like a big tight slap on the mother's or father's face and say are you crazy leaving you child unattended????)
info source: www.ggweather.com/heat/
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