With summertime temperatures on their way, Radcliff Deputy Fire Marshal Tommy Crane says anybody responsible for children should take extra care to not leave children in hot cars, a situation that can turn tragic quickly.
“It wasn’t as bad last year, there were only 29 deaths,” Crane said. “That’s still too many, but it is down from 2019 when it was 53. So still, 29, that’s a lot that we could prevent.”
Crane says on a sunny 60 degree day, the temperature in the car can reach 110 degrees. Temperatures in the car can increase nearly 20 degrees in about 10 minutes.
Crane says to set a reminder for yourself to make sure you are checking the backseat, including a text or an alarm or a visual cue.
“Put something in the back seat that you’re going to have to get out when you get to work,” Crane said. “Maybe it’s your lunchbox, maybe it’s your laptop case. Something where you have to physically open the door and look. Another idea is to use a stuffed animal, and the stuffed animal is in the seat when the child is not in there and then put the stuffed animal in the front seat by you when the child is in the seat so that you have that visual reminder as well.”
If you see a child in a car, check to make sure that the child is unattended and there isn’t somebody else in the car more out of sight. If the child is indeed unattended, take action.
“Check the vehicle, communicate with the child, see if the child is responsive,” Crane said. “If the child is not responding, call 911, do that first, and if the child looks like they are in distress, go ahead and gain access to the car. In those cases where it is an emergency like that, you are protected.”
Make sure cars are locked so kids can’t get into them and lock themselves in, and keep the keys away from children.
