Did you know?

1.  Heat Stroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths in children under 15?  Heat stroke happens when the body is not able to cool itself quickly enough.

2.  A child's body heats up three to five times faster than an adult's does.

     a.  When left in a hot car, a child's major organs begin to shut down when his temperature reaches 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

     b.  A child can die when his temperature reaches 107 degrees Fahrenheit.

3.  Cars heat up quickly!  In just 10 minutes, a car can heat up 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

4.  Cracking a window and/or air conditioning does little to keep it cool once the car is turned off.

5.  Heat stroke can happen when the outside temperature is as low as 57 degrees Fahrenheit.

Safety Reminders:

• Always check the back seat and make sure all children are out of the car before locking it and walking away.
• Have your child care provider call if your child is more than 10 minutes late.
• Put your cell phone, bag, or purse in the back seat, so you check the back seat when you arrive at your destination.
• If someone else is driving your child, always check to make sure he has arrived safely.
• Keep your car locked when it is parked to prevent a curious child from entering when no one is around.
• Make sure children do not have easy access to your car keys.  Store them out of reach of children.
• Teach children that cars are not safe places to play.
• Remind children that cars, especially car trunks, should not be used for games like hide-and-seek.

Take action if you see a child alone in a car:

• If you see an unattended child in a car and are concerned, you should immediately call 911.
• If the child is not responsive or is in pain, immediately:
  • Call 911
  • Get the child out of the car
  • Spray the child with cool water (not in an ice bath).
• If the child is responsive:
  • Stay with the child until help arrives
  • Have someone else search for the driver or ask the facility to page them.