Reasons To Never Leave A Child Alone In A Vehicle

With the hot weather season here (depending on the day of course), just a reminder that the temperature inside of your vehicle can and will rise to dangerous levels. I place a shield in my window to help keep my vehicle from being too hot when I return, and that helps a bit.

And another reminder - never leave children or pets alone inside your vehicle. The quickly rising temperatures can cause injury or death. And the Broome County Stop DWI Program stresses that if you see a child alone in a vehicle call 911.

The Seattle Children's website mentions that heatstroke is the biggest danger. It only takes 10 minutes for the temperature to rise 20 degrees and in 60 minutes, 40 degrees. And don't be fooled by the outside temperature. Deaths have occurred when it's just 70 degrees outside, and leaving the windows open a bit will not help. Check out how quickly the inside of your vehicle can get hot, below.

A child’s body heats up 3 to 5 to five times faster than an adult’s body according to the Seattle Children's website. Children have at times been accidentally left inside a vehicle. They recommend parents get in the habit of checking the backseat of the vehicle every time they get out  Come up with a system that may help remind you to do this step every time.

The article also mentions you should call 911 if you see a child left alone in a vehicle and if it appears that the child or children are hot or appear sick, get them out of the vehicle.

via Broome County Stop DWI Program, Seattle Children's.org