MEMPHIS, Tenn. – As summer temperatures continue to climb across the country, it’s important to remember that hot summer days can lead to loss of life in a vehicle, which can reach deadly temperatures in a matter of minutes.
Sadly, since 1998, at least 972 children across the United States have died from heatstroke.
The United States saw a temporary decrease in automotive exposure during the pandemic, due to an increase in remote work and education. As caregivers shuttle kids between activities and vacation destinations this summer, however, the odds of heatstroke claiming the life of a Mid-South child is expected to climb. Experts are urging parents to make hot car safety a priority at all times. “Families get into a routine during the school year and summer activities can really shake things up for most of us,” says Jennifer Taylor, manager of Injury Prevention at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and Safe Kids Mid-South. “When we experience a shift in daily responsibilities or schedules, grabbing a sleeping child from the backseat or making a plan for children during an errand run can unfortunately fall from the mental checklist.”
Facing the Facts
What many people are shocked to learn is how hot the inside of a car can actually get. The temperature inside a car climbs dramatically, as much as 19 degrees in 10 minutes. This means that it doesn’t have to be a hot day and cracking the window doesn’t help. Because heatstroke can happen anywhere, to anyone, experts urge caregivers to help protect our most vulnerable populations from this very preventable tragedy.
Remember to ACT
Le Bonheur Children’s and Safe Kids Mid-South are asking everyone to remember to ACT:
A: Avoid heatstroke-related injury and death by never leaving your child alone in a car, not even for a minute. And lock your doors and keep your keys and key fobs out of the reach of kids. And ask your neighbors to do the same.
C: Create reminders by putting something in the back of your car next to your child such as a briefcase, a purse or a cell phone that is needed at your final destination. This is especially important if you’re not following your normal routine.
T: Take action. If you see a child alone in a car, call 911. Emergency personnel want you to call. They are trained to respond to these situations. One call could save a life.
By continuing to work together, we can save lives and save parents from the anguish of losing a child.
For more tips and resources to keep kids safe from injuries, please visit www.lebonheur.org/safekids.
About Le Bonheur Children’s
Le Bonheur Children’s, based in Memphis, Tenn., provides expert care for children in more than 45 pediatric subspecialties, encompassing robust community programs, a pediatric research institute and regional outpatient centers in Jackson, Tenn., Tupelo, Miss., and Jonesboro, Ark. Le Bonheur also features a 255-bed hospital in Memphis and a 21-bed satellite hospital within Jackson-Madison County General Hospital in Jackson, Tenn. As the primary pediatric teaching affiliate for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Le Bonheur trains more than 350 pediatricians and specialists each year. Nationally recognized, Le Bonheur has been named a U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospital for 12 consecutive years and is a Magnet-designated facility, the ultimate credential for high-quality patient care and nursing excellence.
For more information, please call (901) 287-6030 or visit lebonheur.org. Connect with us at facebook.com/lebonheurchildrens, twitter.com/lebonheurchild or on Instagram at lebonheurchildrens.
