EVERY WEEK in the United States, at least 50 children are backed over in driveways and parking lots. EVERY WEEK at least 2 of these children die. Children are also injured or killed because they cannot be seen in front of larger and taller vehicles. Little ones who dart outside to say goodbye often go unseen by a driver when the vehicle is set into motion.
Many times the driver of the vehicle is a parent, relative, or neighbor. More children are injured or killed during busy times, schedule changes, family gathering and holidays.
Dangers OUTSIDE motor vehicles:
Safety Tips
• Walk all the way around and look behind a vehicle prior to moving it.
• Know where your kids are before moving your vehicle. Make sure another adult is properly supervising children so they do not get into the path of the moving vehicle.
• To help the driver detect an object or person behind a vehicle, consider installing devices such as rear sensors, cameras, special mirrors or lenses.
• Teach children that parked vehicles might move. Let them know that even though they can see the vehicle, the driver might not see them.
• Trim the landscaping around your driveway to ensure you can see children.
• Hold a child’s hand when leaving a vehicle.
• Teach your children to never play in, around or behind any vehicle.
• Set the emergency brake every time you are in park.
Dangers INSIDE motor vehicles:
It is dangerous to leave children alone in a vehicle, even for a minute. Children can suffer from heat stroke, knock a vehicle into motion, be strangled by a power window or be abducted. Even with the windows down, the temperature inside a parked car can reach 125 degrees in just minutes. A child’s body temperature rises 3-5 times faster than an adult’s temperature, resulting in potential heat stroke or even death.
Safety Tips
• Lock vehicles at all times, even in the garage or driveway.
• Store keys out of children’s reach.
• To be sure your child is never forgotten in your vehicle, put your cell phone, handbag or briefcase on the floor board in the back seat. This gives you another opportunity to be sure your child is not forgotten.
• Use drive-thru services when available. Use your debit or credit card to pay for gas at the pump.
• If a child is locked inside a car, get them out as quickly as possible. If they are hot or seems sick, call 911 immediately.
• Lock the power windows so that children cannot get caught in them. Power windows can strangle a child or cut off a finger.
For more information on keeping your kids safe in and around cars check out www.KidsAndCars.org.
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