Children left alone in cars in high heat

Over the past couple of days there has been 2 reports of babies left alone in cars in high heat.

The first I heard about was in the Indianapolis area, an 18 year old father had left his 4 month old daughter in the car in 105 degree heat, he had arrived home to a busy house and got side tracked talking to family and forgot she was in the car.  When he realized she was still in the car he rushed to save her, her Grandfather gave CPR but it was too late.  The poor little thing had suffered third degree burns on her arms and legs.....she was rushed to the hospital 2 blocks away but was pronounced dead.

Also in Indiana, on the same day, a 16 month old was found in an SUV in 105 degree heat.  The temperature inside the SUV was 124 degrees.  One report I read was that the mother had been shopping for an hour.  I have a hard time believing anyone would leave a child alone for an hour in a car intentionally....but do believe it's possible for people to be so ignorant  This little girl suffered a seizure when removed from the vehicle and was taken to the hospital where she recovered.


A few simple guidelines

Never leave a child alone in a car not even for a minute.
If you see a child alone in a hot car call 911
Keep your keys and remotes out of reach of children, teach them that a car is not for playing in.
If your child is missing first check the pool, then the car....even the trunk.

• Total number of U.S. hyperthermia deaths of children left in cars, 2012: 10
• Total number of U.S. hyperthermia deaths of children left in cars, 2011:  33
• Total number of U.S. hyperthermia deaths of children left in cars, 1998-present:  537 
• info from ggweather.com

Currently only 19 states have laws addressing leaving a child alone in a car.
California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Washington.
Only Utah has proposed legislation for it to be a crime to leave a child alone in a car.


Sorry for such a depressing post readers but these sort of accidents happen to all kinds of people, we have to pay extra attention in this grueling weather. 
Janet Fennel from http://www.kidsandcars.org/ claims that 90% of the people that leave children in cars are upstanding citizens and careful parents or child givers, the ones who usually safety proof their house from everyday dangers.

Sometimes it doesn't even take an hour in a hot car to effect a child.  We all suffer from being stressed, over tired, have changes in our schedules, and get so wrapped up in other events of the day we can all become distracted and forgetful.

So lets take a moment each time we leave the car just to double check.  It could save a life.