Keep Kids Safe In and Around Cars

Summer can be a deadly time of the year for children. Despite all the warnings, an average of 33 children died in the U.S. each year from 1998-2004 from heatstroke after being left in a car. In addition, 41 children under the age of 10 died after being hit or run over in a driveway from 1997-2006 in Utah.

To keep your children safe in and around cars during the hot summer months follow these tips:

• Never leave a child alone in a car - even with the windows down.
• Teach children not to play in or around cars.
• Always lock car doors and trucnks - even at home or in the garage.
• Keep keys out of children's reach and sight.
• Watch children closely around cars, especially when loading and unloading the vehicle.
• Get in the habit of checkign the back seats for infants and toddlers. Put a reminder near the driver's seat or place something that you will need at your next stop - a purse, your lunch, gym bag or briefcase - on teh floor of the backseat where the child is sitting.
• Always secure children properly in child safety or booster seats in the back seat.
• Always check completely around any vehicle before pulling or backing out.
• Beware of child-resistant locks. Teach older children how to disable the driver's door locks if they unintentionally become entrapped in a vehicle.
• Check to make sure car seat surfaces and safety belt buckles aren't hot before putting a child in them. These can easily burn skin.
• Consider having another family member watch from outside the vehicle as you back up.
• Purchase special mirrors that give you a better view of the area behind the vehicle.
• Purchase a backup warning devise that can detect objects in your path.
• Ask a dealer if your vehicle can be retrofitted with a backup warning device.
• Talk with your children about the importance of staying off the driveway.
• Wonder of SUVs, trucks, and vans need to take extra caution to avoid hitting a child.

News release

Resources

Protecting Your Family - National SAFE KIDS Campaign

Safe Kids USA

Child Passenger Safety - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Car Safety Seats: A Guide for Families - American Academy of Pediatrics