Prevent Heatstroke in Children by always checking the Backseat

Caregivers are being reminded of a potentially dangerous situation this summer, leaving a child in the backseat of a car.  The primary vehicle-related killer of children 14 and under in the United States, outside of crashes, is heatstroke, reports the Georgia Department of Public Health. From 1998 to 2018, almost 800 children died from vehicular heatstroke, and 54% were forgotten by a caregiver.  Heatstroke occurs when core body temperature reaches 104 degrees. A core temperature of 107 degrees is deadly. A child’s body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult’s. Child heatstroke occurs most often during the summer, but heatstroke fatalities can occur in vehicles parked in shaded areas, vehicles with the windows rolled down, and when temperatures are less than 80 degrees. A car can heat up by 20 degrees in 10 minutes.  The U.S. Department of Transportation advises, “Look before you lock.” Caregivers should never leave a child alone in the car, always look in the back seat every time you leave the car, and always lock the car and put the keys out of reach. Signs of heatstroke include red, hot and moist or dry skin; no sweating; a strong rapid pulse or a slow weak pulse; nausea; confusion; or acting strangely. If a child shows these signs after being in a hot car, spray the child with cool water. Never put a child in an ice bath, instead call 911.