Keep Kids Out of Hot, Parked Cars
By Rene Hopkins
Coordinator of the East Central Georgia SAFE KIDS Coalition
Medical College of Georgia Children's Medical Center

Augusta, Ga. -- Even in 80-degree weather, temperatures inside a parked car can reach dangerous levels in a matter of minutes. This is a warning to parents and caregivers who think they can leave their child in a car while they run a "quick" errand.

Since 1996, at least 175 children have died of heat stroke after being trapped inside a parked car. When left in a hot vehicle, a young child's core body temperature can increase three to five times faster than that of an adult, causing permanent injury or even death. What makes these incidents even more tragic is the fact that they are 100 percent preventable.

The East Central Georgia SAFE KIDS Coalition, sponsored by the MCG Children's Medical Center, urges parents to be particularly thoughtful about their children's safety by offering the following safety precautions to combat heat-related injuries in cars:

• Never leave your child unattended in a motor vehicle, even with a window open.
• Teach children not to play in, on or around cars.
• Always lock car doors and trunks and keep keys out of children's reach.
• Watch children closely around cars, particularly when loading or unloading items.
• Ensure that all children exit the vehicle at your destination.
• Don't overlook sleeping infants.
• Check the temperature of child safety seat belt buckles before restraining your child.
• Use a light covering to shade the seat of your parked car. Consider using windshield shades in front and back windows.
• Keep the trunk of your car locked at all times, especially when parked in the driveway or near the home.
• Keep the rear fold-down seats closed to help prevent kids from getting into the trunk from inside the car.
• Put car keys out of children's reach and sight.
• Be wary of child-resistant locks. Teach older children how to disable the driver's door locks if they unintentionally become trapped in a motor vehicle.
• Contact your automobile dealership about getting your vehicle retrofitted with a trunk release mechanism.
• Remember, humidity decreases the body's ability to release heat by as much a one-half.

MCG Health System is composed of MCG Health, Inc. and the clinical services offered by the faculty of the Medical College of Georgia and the members of the Physicians Practice Group. MCG Health, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation operating the MCG Hospitals and Clinics, Children's Medical Center, the Georgia Radiation Therapy Center and related clinical facilities and services. MCG Health, Inc. was formed to support the research and education mission of the Medical College of Georgia and to build the economic growth of the CSRA, the state of Georgia and the Southeast by offering the highest level of primary and specialty health care. For more information, please visit www.mcghealth.org.