Danger to children rises with temperatures–It’s no secret that Texas gets hot in the summer and in spring and fall as well. Too often adults leave children in cars to dash into a store, thinking they will only be gone a few minutes. But those minutes can turn into a nightmare and even death.
The death of 6-month-old New Braunfels girl on March 8th was the first hot car death of the year in Texas. She was left unattended for eight hours as temperatures reached 84 degrees. Last year, Texas led the nation with 13 heat-related car deaths.
In hot weather a closed car reaches deadly temperatures quickly. Studies show when the temperature is 85 degrees outside, the temperature inside a closed car can rise 100 degrees in 10 minutes, and 120 degrees in 30 minutes. Children can suffer heat exhaustion or heat stroke, leading to permanent disability or death. Heat stroke, also known as hyperthermia, can cause shock, seizures, irregular heartbeat, heart attack, and damage to the brain, liver, and kidneys.
Not only is it dangerous to leave children alone in a car, it’s against the law. It is a class C misdemeanor (Texas Penal Code §22.10) to intentionally or knowingly leave an unattended child, who is younger than seven years of age, in a motor vehicle for longer than five minutes. A child is considered unattended unless supervised by someone 14 years of age or older. These charges may be elevated to child endangerment or criminally negligent homicide, both felonies, if the child is injured or dies. Leaving a child unattended in a car is also a form of neglectful supervision under the Texas Family Code.
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services’ See & Save campaign reminds parents to:
- Never leave your child unattended in a car, even if the windows are down and a wind shield shade is in place or even just to run a quick errand.
- Make sure all children leave the vehicle when you reach your destination.
- Don’t overlook sleeping infants!
- Place purses and briefcases in the back seat near the car seat to help remind you there is an infant onboard.
- Never leave your car keys where children can get them.
- Keep car doors and trunks locked at all times, even in the garage or driveway.
- Teach children not to play in or around cars.
- Keep the rear fold-down seats closed to prevent kids from getting into the trunk from inside the car.
- Contact your auto dealership about getting your vehicle retrofitted with a trunk release mechanism.
- Be wary of child-resistant locks—make sure they function.
- If your child does get locked inside a car, get him or her out as soon as possible. If you can’t get him or her out yourself, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.
- Make sure that the seat belt and seat surface are not too hot before buckling up your child.
- When you and your children exit the car, place a windshield shade in front and back windows to help cut down on the heat