Awareness & Prevention not to leave Kids & Pets in hot cars.

Sunday, June 06 2021

Hot car deaths: never leave your children or pets in a hot car!

Many parents and pet owners believe it will “never happen to them”, but forgetting about a small child or pet in your car is surprisingly common, especially if you’re in a hurry or stopping off somewhere on your journey. Heatstroke and overheating kills between 30 and 50 children in the US alone every single year.

When the temperature outside is 100 degrees, the interior of your car can take 5 minutes to reach 138 degrees. After 15 minutes, temperatures can reach 150 degrees. These temperatures can be fatal for pets and children. Drivers should always take these facts into account, especially if they live in warmer climates.

Here we offer you a few tips for preventing untimely hot car-related deaths in children and pets.

1. Never leave small children alone in a car. Period.

It may seem obvious not to leave your child alone in a car, but it happens often. Quickly running into the grocery store or visiting someone is no excuse to leave a child alone in your car. Not only is it dangerous in terms of overheating, it leaves them vulnerable to criminals and kidnapping, among other things.

2. Store your car keys out of reach.

Many children are fascinated by cars, and it is not uncommon to hear of them taking their parents’ car keys, letting themselves into a car, and accidentally locking themselves inside. Store your keys where your children cannot reach them.

3. Always lock your car.

Not only does locking your car protect you from theft, it ensures that your children cannot let themselves in while playing nearby.

4. Teach your children.

Make it clear to your children that cars are not plays spaces, and they should act accordingly.

5. Make your trunk inaccessible from the inside.

If your car’s design allows you to reach the trunk from behind the backseats, position the backseats in such a way that children will be unable to enter the trunk.

6. Call 911.

If you see a child locked inside a car alone, you should always call 911, especially if their parents or guardians are nowhere to be seen. You may feel like you’re meddling in someone else’s business, but no police officer will berate you for being concerned about a child’s safety.

7. Don’t forget about pets.

Dogs, cats, and other pets can be killed by overheating in much the same way that children can. Never leave them inside a hot car.

8. Take advantage of the technology.

Numerous apps, sensors, and built-in systems now exist to remind you about children in the backseat of a car. The “Waze” app features a child reminder setting, and GM is continually making cars with “backseat reminder” sensors.

Below are images we put together you can "SAVE AS" to your computer. Print them on glossy stickers to put on cars or any where you can to spread awareness and prevention. Use our friends at Sticker Giant to print rolls of stickers to remind people of about leaving kids and pets in hot cars. E-mail us at [email protected] to receive the .eps or .ai to adjust the image or colors.