By Beth Galvin, FOX Medical Team reporter - bio | email
San Francisco State University researchers say more than half of the 38 U.S. children who die on average each year in hot cars aren't intentionally left behind.
FOX Medical TeamResearchers: Parents often forget children in carMore>>
A 3-month-old Indiana baby has died and another toddler is hospitalized after both were left in sweltering hot vehicles on Saturday. In both cases, a parent is facing criminal charges, but researchers say in most of these fatalities, caregivers simply forget that the child is in the car.
Police in Fishers, Ind. Shattered the window of an SUV to rescue a 16-month-old girl trapped inside.
Officers say her mother -- charged with felony neglect --went shopping for about an hour while temperature inside the vehicle climbed to 124 degrees.
A few miles away, on the same day, a 4-month-old baby died in a sweltering car parked outside her grandparents house.
Her father is now charged with neglect.
But San Francisco State University researchers say more than half of the 38 U.S. children who die on average each year in hot cars aren't intentionally left behind. Their caregivers forget them.
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's Pediatrician-in-Chief Dr. Jim Fortenberry says kids are most at risk of being left behind in a vehicle when their family's routine is thrown off.
"Families have a sudden change in who is taking the child to daycare or who is taking the child to school," said Fortenberry.
When 16-month old Mary Ellen Gregory's mom Patty is driving her to and from daycare, Patty says she's hyper-aware, constantly reminding herself Mary Ellen is in her car seat. And when they pull up to their destination, the first thing Patty does is get Mary Ellen out of the car.
"I have friends who have - for very brief periods - forgotten they have their baby with them. Fortunately nothing happened. But a lot of times you're running on little to no sleep, you may have a big busy day," said Gregory.
Dr. Fortenberry says treat your car like you would a bathtub or pool. Never leave your child unattended – even for a minute, even with the windows down or even if the child is sleeping.
"It's tough to wake a sleeping child, but it's just as important to keep them safe. So even if it means waking them up, you need to take them outside," said Fortenberry.
Because, even on a mild 80-degree day, the temperature inside a closed car can reach life-threatening levels in as little as 10 minutes. Dr. Fortenberry says give yourself visual reminders that you have a child on-board.
Place the child's favorite toy in the front seat next to you.
Put your cell phone, purse or briefcase in the back, next to the child.
"So that you'll be reminded, again, to reach for that and to get your child out at the same time," said Fortenberry.
"We have a school bag for her, so if the school bag is in the car with you, you've got Mary Ellen," said Gregory.
Patty sometimes reminds herself out loud as she's driving that Mary Ellen is in the back along for the ride.
If you see a child left unattended in a vehicle, call 911. Also, remember don't leave pets in the car either.
Monday, June 17 2013 10:08 AM EDT2013-06-17 14:08:03 GMT
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San Francisco State University researchers say more than half of the 38 U.S. children who die on average each year in hot cars aren't intentionally left behind.
