As the temperature starts to rise as the summer season rolls on, make sure you take the necessary steps to avoid leaving children in hot cars, a situation that can turn dangerous fast.
“On a warm, humid day, the car temperature can rise 19 degrees in about 10 minutes,” said Radcliff Deputy Fire Marshal Tommy Crane. “On a sunny 60 degree day, especially the humidity we have here in Kentucky sometimes, it can be up to 110 degrees in the car.”
If you see a child is alone in a car, make sure the child is truly alone and there isn’t somebody else out of sight in the vehicle, then take action.
“If you see a child alone in a car, get involved,” Crane said. “Call 911 immediately. If the child seems hot or sick, in distress, get them out of the car, out of that vehicle, as quickly as possible.”
If you are responsible for a child, give yourself reminders to check the backseat so children don’t get left behind such as setting an alert on your phone.
“Maybe put something in the child’s seat like a stuffed animal that you move up to the front seat with you when the child is in the seat and then put it back,” Crane said. “Have somebody call you or text you to remind you, ‘hey did you drop little Johnny off at the daycare?’. Put your lunch box or your briefcase back there in the back seat area with the child so that you have to physically open that door and double check, and then just remember to look before you lock.”
Bryan’s Law, passed in 2000, makes a person liable for Second-Degree Manslaughter or First-Degree Wanton Endangerment if a child under eight dies or suffers serious injury as a result of being left in a car.
