When an infant or child is left in a closed car in summer, rising temperatures can easily cause heatstroke and even death, especially when temperatures hit record highs as they have done this summer. According to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), gadgets intended to alert caregivers that a child has been left in the car aren’t enough to protect children and prevent child injuries.
After the NHTSA reported 33 deaths from heatstroke in 2011 and 49 deaths in 2010 due to children being left in hot cars, several manufacturers developed various devices to warn caregivers if a child had been left inside a vehicle. The specific way each device works varies, but most rely on a combination of sensors to detect temperature and movement within the vehicle, as well as a system to alert caregivers, often by sending a message to a cell phone.
While the devices sound like a good idea, the NHTSA study found them lacking in several respects. Malfunctioning sensors, a child moving out of range of the sensors, or simply forgetting one’s cell phone can all cause the system to fail to alert a caregiver about a child in a vehicle. The NHTSA recommends that caregivers do not rely on such systems, but always double-check to ensure all children are out of the vehicle and that the keys are not locked inside.
Children can suffer injuries more easily than adults, especially when it comes to hot cars, bodies of water, and other summer hazards. If a child you love has been injured, Missouri child injury attorney John Page and the dedicated legal team at Page Law can help. To learn more, call us today at (314) 322-8515 for a free, confidential case evaluation.
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