Which Fatal Mistake Is Made Far Too Often By Forgetful Parents?

For most people, it seems unimaginable that anyone could possibly “forget” about their child in the car, but, from 1998 to 2010, 495 children have died of hyperthermia or heat stroke due to being left in a car. This was recently the case in Orange County, California, where temperatures in late spring and early summer can be unpredictable, explains a local attorney. Last May, Hayley Wesley left her daughter, Madison, in the back of her car for three hours. The child died of hyperthermia. Although Wesley will spend the next three years in prison for this tragic accident, the guilt could haunt her for the rest of her life.

Since the early 1990s, there has been a more than tenfold increase in young children’s deaths from hyperthermia. One theory to explain the increase is that since the introduction of frontal airbags, children no longer sit in the front seats of automobiles. In addition, cars have grown larger: people drive more vans and sport utility vehicles, which may offer less optimal views of rear seating. However, by far the most common excuse for this tragedy is that the caregiver or parent just “forgets” the child.

A child’s body heats three to five times faster than an adult’s. In the average closed car, the temperature will increase 19 degrees Fahrenheit in only ten minutes. After twenty minutes, it will rise by 29 degrees. In one hour, the temperature will have risen by between 45 and 50 degrees. On a hot day, it can reach as high as 140 degrees in just two hours. Moreover, parking the vehicle in the shade or cracking the window will do little to cool its interior.

With busier schedules and an increasing number of distractions—both at home and on the road—parents must take precautions to avoid leaving their child in the car. Such accidents have resulted in far too many preventable injuries and deaths. In addition, a parent or guardian who leaves a child aged 6 or younger in a vehicle unsupervised faces fines and penalties under California Vehicle Code 15620, also known as Kaitlyn’s Law for the six-month-old girl who died after being left in a car for over two hours. In 2009, Orange County accounted for 15 of the convictions in the state, according to a local attorney.

Safe Kids USA recommends the following practices to ensure your child’s safety:

• Leaving a child in the car is usually due to a change of routine. Place a cell phone or purse in the area of your baby or toddler. That will ensure that you will never leave your child.
• Set your cell phone to alert you and coordinate with your daycare if your child has not been dropped off. Always have a plan with your daycare if your schedule changes.
• If you see a child left unattended in a vehicle, call 9-1-1 immediately. You could save a life.

For further information and safety tips, visit http://www.kidsandcars.org and http://www.safekids.org.

By: Larry Drexel

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Orange County Car Accident Attorney