Williams Buick GMC: Summer Reminder: Watch Out for Hot Cars and Kids

Summer is officially here, and many families are taking advantage of the warm weather for a vacation. In fact, a recent study from TripAdvisor stated that three in four summer travelers said they would be taking a trip by car, up from 70% last summer.

Whether it’s a trip down the road to the local ice cream shop, or a cross country road trip, remember to take extra care this summer and make sure kids are safe and comfortable in the car.

The General Motors Foundation and Safe Kids Worldwide are partnering to spread awareness of the dangers of heat stroke.  According to Safe Kids Worldwide, a global organization with a mission of preventing unintentional childhood injury, roughly 38 children in the United States die each year from being trapped in a hot car. Since children’s bodies heat up three to five times faster than adults, they are at greater risk for hyperthermia—also known as heat stroke.

“In May of 2013, we recorded seven deaths from heat stroke in vehicles,” said Kate Carr of Safe Kids in a recent podcast. “And that’s heartbreaking; it’s a tragedy and something that we can avoid.” This year, there have already been 15 heatstroke related deaths reported in the United States.

Cars can heat up to dangerous levels in as little as a few minutes, and it doesn’t take a temperature of 90 degrees for this to happen—a car can reach well above 110 degrees on a nice cool day of 60 or 70 degrees.

In order to prevent heatstroke deaths, Safe Kids has developed some key tips that can be easily remembered using the acronym A.C.T.

A: Avoid heatstroke related injury and death by never leaving a child alone in a car—not even for a minute. Make sure the car is locked and the keys are out of reach to children, and teach children that a vehicle is not a play area.

C: Create reminders by putting an important item in the back seat of the car— such as a purse, briefcase or cell phone.

T: Take action. Call 9-11 if a child is left alone in a car.

“We want to make sure everyone has a safe and enjoyable summer,” said James Bell, head of consumer affairs for General Motors. “By spreading the word and making a personal commitment to never leave your child alone in the car, we can prevent these tragedies from happening.”

Safe Kids and the General Motors Foundation are also partnering with 600 coalitions across the United States—including police and fire departments, healthcare workers, and hospitals to spread the word and help educate families on the dangers of leaving a child alone in the car.

Summer vacation should be fun and relaxing! With the right planning and attention to safety, this summer will be sure to provide unforgettable memories for the whole family.

For more information, visit Safe Kids Worldwide (http://www.safekids.org/heatstroke)

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