Never leave children alone in cars

  • Published
  • By Connie Powers
  • 366th Medical Group
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  As the hot summer days continue, it's a good time to remind ourselves to never leave a child alone in a car.

In the month of May, seven fatalities occurred in the U.S. due to children being left in a vehicle and that is just the beginning of summer.

Temperatures inside cars can rise 19 degrees in just 10 minutes. Leaving a window slightly open can have little effect on the inside car temperature.

A child's body heats up three to five times faster than an adult's body. Children's internal systems to regulate body temperature are not fully developed, and they absorb heat and generate heat under stress more quickly than adults.

When body temperature reaches 104 degrees, internal organs start to shut down. When it reaches 107 degrees, the person dies. Symptoms can quickly progress from flushed, dry skin and vomiting to seizures, organ failure and death.

This tragedy can be prevented if parents, caregivers, bystanders and the public remember to ACT.

· A: Avoid heatstroke-related injury and death by never leaving your child alone in a car, not even for a minute. Make sure to keep your car locked when you're not in it so kids don't get in by themselves.
· C: Create reminders by putting something in the back of your car next to your child such as a briefcase, a purse or a cell phone that is needed at your final destination. This is especially important if you're not following your normal routine.
· T: Take action. If you see a child alone in a car, call 911. Emergency personnel want you to call. They are trained to respond to these situations. One call could save a life.

For more information contact Connie Powers, family advocacy outreach manager at (208) 828-7143 or email connie.powers@us.af.mil or visit www.safecar.gov.