Avoid Tragedy With These Important Hot Car Death Prevention Tips!

Always double check.

In the heat, when you are already feeling hazy yourself, it’s easy to be forgetful. But that’s no excuse when your child’s life could be on the line. Consider that when you leave the car, you should make a quick check for anything that could be affected by the heat. This doesn’t just include your child, but also any snacks or drinks on the back seat, or gadgets that might be adversely affected. This will get you into the habit of checking the car even when you believe you have collected all of your children, or when you aren’t thinking straight.

Technology could soon help us out with this, with the addition of rear seat alerts in new cars. Until then, make sure you do those checks yourself, with a visual confirmation that all is well. It’s the kind of mistake you never want to make, so don’t be arrogant enough to think that you don’t need to perform these checks. It’s always better safe than sorry.

If you still forget, make a new habit. Put your purse, briefcase, laptop bag, or so on in the backseat. Since you now have to go back there to get it before you go inside, you will be forced to make that check.

Keep keys safe.

When kids get their hands on car keys, or the car is left unlocked, it’s easy for even a toddler to make their way inside the car. They know the routine, and might decide to play a game of “going to the shops”. What happens when they fall asleep and the temperature rises, or they find they cannot open the car from the inside? Tragedy could strike all too quickly without you even being aware that the child is in the car.

These tips are for keeping your own kids safe, but remember others’ kids too. If you are out and about and see a kid in a hot car, consider calling 911. It’s worth making a parent angry at your interference to save a life.