July 20--Leaving a child alone in a car for any period of time is too long, and doing so can have potentially fatal consequences.
"As far as leaving them in the car, do not do it, not even for a minute," said Kinston Police Department public information officer Woody Spencer. "There is no excuse for it; a child's body can not handle heat stress like an adult can. The temperature in a car is like an oven, and with the windows allowing sun in, temperatures rise very quickly."
On average, 35 to 40 children across the country die from heat exposure in vehicles each year. There have already been at least 21 such deaths in 2010 -- the most in the first six months of the year since researchers began collecting data on the subject in 1998. According to the N.C. Department of Insurance, more than 450 children have died as a result of being left in hot cars.
In the past 12 years, at least 19 children in North Carolina have died from hyperthermia after being trapped in hot vehicles. This is the fifth highest total by state, behind only Texas, Arizona, California and Florida.
"These deaths are preventable," said Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin, state chair of Safe Kids North Carolina. "A child should never be left unattended in a car, for any length of time or at any time of year. We need to work to reverse this tragic trend."
July, typically the hottest month of the year, is historically the deadliest month for child fatalities in hot cars. Hyperthermia, however, can occur even on days with mild 70 degree temperatures. Leaving a child in a car is particularly dangerous because closed windows create a greenhouse effect and can cause the temperature in a closed vehicle can rise about 20 degrees in 10 minutes and nearly 30 degrees in 20 minutes. Cracking a window has little effect.
"Lots of people protect their children at the home or on the playground, but car safety is just as important," said Janette Fennell, founder of Kidsandcars.org, a nonprofit advocate of car safety for children. "Leaving a child in a car for just a few minutes is too long and can have tragic consequences."
Death by hyperthermia is caused when the body's temperature rises uncontrollably. Babies and young children are not able to regulate their body temperatures well, and their temperatures can warm at a rate three to five times faster than an adult, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
Depending on what color an infant is wearing and when he last drank something, an infant might die of hyperthermia in just 15 minutes on a 75-degree day.
Joel Gerber can be reached at 252-559-1076 or jgerber@freedomenc.com.
Breakout Box: Tips to prevent hot car deaths
n Never leave a child alone in a vehicle. Check to make sure all children exit the vehicle when you reach your destination.
n Lock the doors when your vehicle is parked. Teach children that cars are not places to play.
n Busy parents have a lot of their minds, so give yourself a reminder. Place your purse, briefcase or other important items in the backseat next to your child's car seat so you have to look in the back before leaving the car.
n If you see a child or pet left unattended in a vehicle, call 911 immediately.
n Check vehicles and trunks first if a child goes missing.
Source: N.C. Department of Insurance
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