In 2018, 51 children died from being left in a hot vehicle according to noheatstroke.org. This is the highest number of vehicular heatstroke deaths in 21 years. Excluding car crashes, heatstroke is the leading cause of death in vehicles for children aged 14 and under and an average of 38 children have died each year since 1998 from vehicular heatstroke.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a young child’s body heats up three to five times faster than an adult’s. This is because children (especially babies) lack the ability to efficiently regulate their body temperature. Summer may not officially be here, but temperatures are on the rise and parents, guardians and caretakers need to take extra precautions.
A number of vehicle manufacturers have begun integrating a technology that alerts the driver there may be a child (or even pet) in the backseat. General Motors, Nissan, Hyundai and Kia have all integrated their own technology into their vehicles. This should be mandatory in all automobiles so that terrible accidents like this no longer occur. There are also “forget me nots” and mobile apps available for purchase to serve as reminders for the distracted parent or guardian that there may be a child in the vehicle.
For a list of a few available life saving devices, please see the link below.