Many of us have run back inside to grab something we forgot and left our car running in the driveway.  It is a common occurrence that has unfortunately led to many children’s injuries.  In Avoiding Children’s Injuries Part Two, we look at how the summer heat can cause heat-stroke for children if left in a parked car.

Our personal injury attorneys typically see injuries that occur in car accidents.  However, in the summer months many children’s injuries occur when the car they are in is not even moving.

Each year, 44 child wrongful deaths and 105,000 children’s injuries occur  in non-car crashes according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Board (NHTSA).  Of those needless wrongful deaths and children’s injuries, many are caused by heat-stroke (hyperthermia).

Children can suffer from injuries easier than adults because of their smaller body frames.  They aren’t used to dealing with high amounts of trauma, and their injuries can require immediate medical treatment.  If you are a parent in this situation, you may have no clue what to do.  Our personal injury attorneys have created a handy resource page to help you get your child medical treatment for their injuries.

Here are the NTHSA’s tips to help prevent children’s injuries (heat-stroke) in the summer heat:

  • Never leave a child unattended in an automobile.
  • Do not let your children play in an unattended automobile.
  • Never leave infants or children in a parked auto, even if the windows are partially open or with the engine and the air conditioning on.
  • Make a habit of looking in on the automobile — before locking the door and walking away.
  • If you are bringing your child to daycare (if your spouse normally does this), then have your spouse call you to make sure that everything went according to plan.
  • Ask your childcare provider to call you if your child does not show up for childcare.
  • Always lock automobile doors and trunks and keep keys out of children’s reach.  If a child is missing, check the automobile first, including the trunk.
  • If you see a child alone in a hot car, call the police.  If they are in distress due to heat, get them out as quickly as possible.  Warning signs may include: red, hot and moist or dry skin; no sweating; a strong rapid pulse or a slow weak pulse; nausea; or acting strangely.  Cool the child rapidly, and call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.

Some of these tips may seem a bit extreme, but it is always best to be safe rather than sorry when dealing with the health of your children.  As personal injury attorneys, we hope that you never have to deal with an injury to your child.  So heed the warnings of the NTHSA in these warm months — it may help you stop children’s injuries from happening.

Coming tomorrow, Avoiding Children’s Injuries Part 3 – Power Windows.

Call us now or click here for a FREE CONSULTATION with an experienced personal injury attorney at 1-858-551-2090.  We look forward to providing good advice to help you make smart decisions about your case in either English or Spanish.