Heatstroke is on the rise, especially as temperatures reach summer highs.
Parents and caregivers understand the importance of restraining children in their car booster seats, an effective way to protect youngsters. However, even with children safely in place, one significant and overlooked hazard may be lying in wait: heatstroke.
Heatstroke can lead to death. It is a severe medical condition that kills more than three dozen children annually when they are left unattended. Read on and we will examine the causes of heatstroke as well as the preventative measures parents should take.
Signs of Heatstroke
While adults may understand the signs of heatstroke, small children do not. Heatstroke is also known as hyperthermia. It occurs when the body’s temperature reaches 104 degrees Fahrenheit or higher according to the Mayo Clinic.
As a body overheats, heat cramps set in. Heat cramps are muscle spasms caused by a loss of salt and water, an affliction that commonly affects people that exercise in very warm conditions. Heat cramps can quickly give way to heat exhaustion. The Mayo Clinic explains it becomes evident when “heavy sweating, nausea, lightheadedness and feeling faint” is present.
As the body’s temperature begins to rise, heatstroke may set in. Heatstroke can damage vital organs such as the kidneys, heart, brain, and muscles. Without quick medical intervention, death may occur.
Hot Car Conditions
Whether children are accidentally left in a car or somehow get in unlocked cars or trunks without their parents’ knowledge, such vehicles can become very hot, particularly during the summer months. Even when outside temperatures are relatively cool, such as in the 60s, the inside temperature of your car can rise above 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Moreover, cabin temperatures can rise by about 20 degrees within just 10 minutes according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Deadly cabin temperatures can be reached within just 10 minutes if the outside temperature is in the low 80s. And, leaving a window open an inch or two with the car running and the air-conditioning on may do little to keep a car cool. Children’s bodies do not regulate heat in the same way as adults. Indeed, the NHTSA notes that a child’s body temperature may increase from three to five times faster than an adult’s when sitting inside a vehicle.
Taking Preventive Measures
There are two ways that parents and caregivers can prevent heatstroke.
First, all unattended vehicles should be locked, the trunk included. Children should be instructed to never play in or near vehicles.
Second, the KidsandCars.org advocacy group advises people to “look before you lock,” offering a safety checklist to encourage parents to be extra vigilant when children are in the car.
That checklist advises parents to leave something in the backseat of the car that they’ll need when they stop, such as a purse or a briefcase. That way, when reaching for the item, they will remember that their child is still in the car.
The Dangers of Distraction
Janette Fennell, the founder of KidsandCars.org, notes that fatigued or distracted parents and caregivers may leave a child in the car while going to work. In particular, they may forget to drop her off at daycare.
Parents can also arrange with a caregiver to automatically call them if the child does not arrive at their drop off location on time. Leaving the child’s stuffed animal or toy in the front seat while you are driving reminds you that your little one is with you.
Safety Measures Work
When you are tired or busy you tend to forget things, perhaps even your child safely strapped in his car seat. Heatstroke is a potentially deadly condition that can be avoided, provided you take the recommended safety measures.
This article was originally published on April 20, 2022.
Photo Credits
Image by Rhonda Jenkins from Pixabay
Image by Tom Staziker from Pixabay
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