On a warm day, the interior temperature of a vehicle can rise to dangerous levels even within a short period of time.
According to Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children, on average, one child dies in Canada in a hot car every year and it’s something that’s easily preventable.
While no parent thinks they would forget their child in a hot car, the unfortunate truth is it can happen to anyone.
“Research shows that stress, sleep deprivation, and change in routine can make people more forgetful,” said Emily Thomas with Consumer Reports.
Those are conditions many parents and caregivers know all too well. While the risk of heatstroke increases in warmer weather, it doesn’t take a heat wave to create dangerous conditions.
Children have died in hot cars after getting into them and locking the doors, but most cases involve a parent simply forgetting they’re in the backseat.
CTV News wanted to see how, on a hot day, just how hot it gets inside a vehicle. We placed a thermometer, which was currently at 21 C inside a car that was in the sun for three hours.
After three hours we checked it and the temperature inside the vehicle had risen to 61 C. That temperature creates potentially dangerous and life-threatening conditions and is hot enough to prove fatal for a child.
“Children’s bodies heat up three to five times faster than adults. It’s never safe to leave a child unattended in a vehicle, even with the windows cracked or the vehicle parked in the shade,” said Thomas.
In the United States, on average, 37 children die each year after being left or becoming trapped in hot cars.
Noheatstroke.org reports the deaths have included children from five-day-old babies to 14-year-old kids and in most cases, parents accidentally left their child in the car.
If you have small children, there are things you can do to remind yourself to check the back seat every time you exit the car, and you should make it part of your routine every time you drive.
“You can create a visual reminder by placing your child’s bag, jacket, or hat next to you in the front. You can also get in the habit of putting your purse or bag in the back seat, so you’re forced to check it when you exit the car,” said Thomas.
Simple changes in your daily routine could save a life. It’s also recommended to always keep your vehicle locked so children can’t gain access to it on their own.
The Toronto Humane Society has also released safety warnings to look before you lock so pets aren’t accidentally left in a hot car.
Manufacturers are being advised to create better technology to help warn parents when a child is in the backseat.
