Ross Downing Chevrolet Blog!

On August 14th 2010,  an Ohio 2 year old died while hiding in a neighbors car and her 3 year old sister was found unconscious. How did this happen? Hyperthermia.

A neighbor noticed the passenger door to her car was ajar and found the girls in her front seat. The car had been in direct sunlight with the windows closed, and temperatures outside were in the 80s. Since the children were small, their body temp can rise 3-4 times faster than an adult. It is not known exactly how long the girls were inside but it does not take very long at all for a child's body temp to rise.

Each year, between 30-40 children die from hyperthermia when left in hot vehicles. In the last 12 years, 461 children have died from hyperthermia from being left alone in hot vehicles. One of the most common ways this happens is when an adult has a sleeping child in the back seat and is transporting the child out of their normal routine. The adult parks the vehicle and forgets that the child is in the back seat. Sounds irresponsible, but it has happened to more responsible, well meaning, loving parents than you can imagine.

GM has teamed up with SafeKids.org to build awareness of children dying of hyperthermia from being left in or trapped in hot vehicles.

1. First, never leave your child alone in a vehicle; small children cannot roll down windows, unlock doors or unbuckle themselves.
2. As a reminder that your child is in the backseat, place your cell phone, purse or briefcase on the floor in front of your child's car seat. Be sure it's something you always carry with you therefore you are forced to check the backseat.
3. Lock doors while parked at home so children do not get into your car and get trapped.
4. Even when temperatures feel comfortable outside it does not mean the car will not heat up inside quickly! Acar can become a death trap even on a mild sunny day. It can raise the car's inside temperature to well above 120 degrees within 30 minutes!
5. Get your kids out of the car first, and then worry about getting the groceries, etc., out of the car when you get home
6. Call 911 if you see children left in a vehicle.

Watch this video by GM and SafeKids.org to learn more!
For more tips, go to http://www.safekids.org/

Amy Dalton E-Marketing Manager Ross Downing Chevrolet Hammond, LA