Using a properly installed car or booster seat or buckling your child in properly can reduce the risk of serious injury or death by as much as 75%.
Car Safety
Source:
one tough job
Forgetting a child in a car accounts for about half of all child vehicular heatstroke deathshttp://noheatstroke.org/
Warm temperatures are on the rise and it’s a good time for all parents to think about keeping their kids safe in cars. Children left alone in or around cars are at a higher risk of suffering from heat stroke. Forgetting a child in a car accounts for about half of all child vehicular heatstroke deaths (http://noheatstroke.org/). On a 70-degree day, even with the windows slightly rolled down, the temperature inside a car can exceed 120 degrees in 20 minutes.
Common reasons why kids are forgotten/locked in cars
- Changes in routines and/or busy schedules
- Child is napping in car when parent reaches destination
- A car/car keys are left unattended
- Child left unattended for “just for a minute”
tips from Janette Fennel of KidsAndCars.org, via Parents Magazine, to ensure you remember your child:
1. Be extra alert if your routine changes. That's when the risk of unintentionally leaving your child in your car increases.
2. Put something of your child's, like a toy, on the front seat.
3. Leave an item you'll need at your next destination in the backseat - like your cell phone, purse, briefcase, or even a shoe.
4. Place your child's car seat in the middle of the backseat rather than behind the driver. This way, it's easier for you to see your child.
5. It's crucial to set up a system with your child-care provider. If you don't plan to drop off your child that day, call your caregiver. If the child doesn't arrive as expected, have the caregiver call you.
6. Discuss the topic of hot-car deaths with every person who drives your child anywhere. This includes partners, grandparents, and babysitters.
7. Always "Look Before You Lock." Get in the habit of checking the backseat every time you get out of the car.
here are some tips on how to get your tasks done while keeping your child safe:
- Bring a friend. Ask an adult you trust to come along for a ride to the store, gas station, or while running errands.
- Nap-time first. Run errands when your child is less likely to fall asleep in the car.
- Use drive-thru banking. Keep deposit slips and envelopes in your car glove box. Use drive-thru tellers and ATMs when running around with kids.
- Flex your time at work. If possible, work a half day and use the additional time to get your monthly tasks done.
- Set-up a regular babysitting swap with another parent. Take turns babysitting another parent’s children while they run errands. Take the kids to the park, for a walk, or hang out in your backyard. Next time it will be your turn to check off your to-do list without distractions.
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The Children’s Trust created this list of tips for parents and caregivers to talk about basic personal safety skills with kids. Educate your children as early as possible, just as you would teach them about traffic or water safety skills.
Talking with your child about things like touching and private body parts isn’t easy. It’s common to feel uncomfortable and embarrassed, and you may not know where to start. But the good news is, you can weave these conversations into the interactions you have with your kids every day, like bedtime, reading time, and at meals.
