Kids in Cars

1
Kids in Cars

• What Every Parent
• Should Know

2
Just the Facts

• You may already know that vehicles on the move
  are dangerous to your children.
• In the U.S., collision-related injuries are the
  leading cause of death for children 5 to 12 years
  old.

exit
3
Just the Facts

• But vehicles are also a danger to your children
  even when theyre parked.

exit
4
Just the Facts

• According to the Centers for Disease Control and
  Prevention, in a one-year period ending June
  2001
• 9,160 children were injured when they were left
  unattended in or around motor vehicles
• under 15 years old

exit
5
A car is not a babysitter

• In a 2005 Harris poll, 30 of American adults
  with children under 12 admitted to having left
  children alone in a vehicle.
• That doesnt make it OK.
• It isnt OK.

exit
6
When kids get left alone

• How do kids get hurt when theyre left alone
  inside a parked vehicle?
• Theres no easy way to say it, so well just say
  it

exit
7
When kids get left alone

• They find the keys, start the engine, and the car
  begins moving, out of control
• They bump something and start the car rolling

exit
8
When kids get left alone

• They overheat (hyperthermia)
• They freeze (hypothermia)

exit
9
When kids get left alone

• They push a button and choke themselves on a
  power window
• A fire starts inside the car

exit
10
When kids get left alone

• Theyre vulnerable to kidnappers
• Theyre vulnerable to carjackers

exit
11
It can happen to anyone

• If it were your child... Your heart cant even go
  there, can it?
• Here is one familys story.

exit
12
Harrisons Story

• Two-year-old Harrison was sitting on a park bench
  with his mother and his three cousins. They were
  watching boats go by on the river.

exit
13
Harrisons Story

• Not far away, two other children (ages 2 and 3)
  were left unattended inside a van that was parked
  but running. Their parents stood outside the van
  talking to relatives.

exit
14
Harrisons Story

• One of the children shifted the van into gear. It
  jumped a curb and began racing through the park.

exit
15
Harrisons Story

• Harrisons mother heard a crash behind their park
  bench. She saw the van coming toward them, yelled
  for her nieces to run, and grabbed for Harrison.
  There wasnt enough time. Harrison and his mother
  were struck. Harrison was killed.

exit
16
About Kids in Cars

• Kids In Cars was founded in 1999 by Terrill and
  Michele Struttmann in honor of their son
  Harrison.
• Kids In Cars is devoted to protecting other kids
  like Harrisonkids like yours.

exit
17
It can happen, but

• But theres so much you can do to prevent it. We
  can tell you how.
• Just remember, the Kids In Cars rules are in
  force 24/7, whether its convenient or not.

exit
18
Golden Rule 1

• Dont leave kids alone inside a vehicle. Not even
  for a minute.

exit
19
Planning Ahead

• If youre driving with kids in tow, what can you
  do so youre not tempted to leave a child alone
  in the vehicle?
• Remember that a car is not a babysitter
• Plan ahead

exit
20
Planning Ahead

• If a child is with you when you run errands in a
  vehicle
• Use drive-through services
• Use a credit card at the gas pump
• Schedule curbside pick-ups/drop-offs
• Ask grocery store clerks to load your vehicle and
  return your cart for you

exit
21
Planning Ahead

• If you know the errands are going to involve a
  lot of getting into and out of the car
• Try to leave the kids with an adult.
• If possible, set up a babysitting co-op with
  friends and neighbors.

exit
22
Notes for new parents

• Since the baby came into your life
• Youre always tired
• Your memory is shot
• Youre easily distracted
• Youre constantly rushing somewhere
• Youre not yet used to the routines that seem to
  come so easily to every other parent in the world

exit
23
Notes for new parents

• And youre at high risk for simply forgetting
  your baby is in the back seat.
• Especially if the baby falls into a quiet sleep
  (and they often do)

exit
24
Notes for new parents

• We know youre a caring, intelligent person. But
  the routines dont come easily to any new
  parents. So let us help you with this one

exit
25
Notes for new parents

• Every time you get out of the car, just ask
  yourself
• Is the baby back there?
• If so, the routine is easy to remember Where
  you go, the baby goes.

exit
26
Quiz Question

• You spot a small child who has been left alone
  inside a car in a parking lot on a warm day. He
  looks flushed (or sick) and cranky. You should
  call 911 immediately.

True
False
exit
27
Answer

• True Call 911 right away. It takes very little
  time for a cars interior temperature to rise to
  dangerous levels.
• And on a cold day, it takes just as little time
  for the temperature to drop.

exit
28
Call 911

• A car can become an oven.
• When its 81 outdoors, the interior of a vehicle
  can reach 100 in 10 minutes.
• The temperature inside the vehicle will rise 10
  to 30 further as time passes.
• Cracking the windows does not help.

exit
29
Call 911

• Theres no time for second guessing your decision
  in this situation.
• By the time the child looks flushed, you probably
  need to move very quickly.

exit
30
Call 911

• And remember
• The younger the child, the more vulnerable s/he
  is to heat.
• Children with fevers are especially vulnerable.

exit
31
Call 911

• By the way, even if a child inside a car looks
  perfectly comfortable, its reasonable to call
  911 if an adult does not show up at the car
  within 5 minutes.

exit
32
Got it?

• OK, youve vowed to yourself that youll never
  leave a child alone inside a vehicle.
• Unfortunately, thats not the only way kids get
  hurt around vehicles

exit
33
When kids play near cars

• Kids also get hurt when they play in or around
  parked vehicles
• They get into a car and cant get out
• They get into a trunk and it closes behind them
• A driver doesnt see them and backs into them

exit
34
Golden Rule 2

• Teach kids not to play in, on, or around cars,
  even cars that appear to be empty.

exit
35
And more

• Of course, theres more you can do
• Keep vehicles locked at all times.
• Dont leave keys within kids reach.
• When you park, make sure all your young
  passengers get out.
• If a child goes missing, check vehicles and
  trunks right away.

exit
36
And more

• You may also want to consider
• Retrofitting your vehicles with a trunk release
  device
• Installing cross-view mirrors or back-up
  detection devices

exit
37
Quiz Question

• You dont need to lock your vehicle if its
  safely parked in your driveway or garage.

True
False
exit
38
Answer

• False. Your vehicle is not safe from a childs
  curiosity just because its parked at home. Lock
  it. Thats the only way to be sure your child
  cant wander into it.

exit
39
Quiz Question

• When you back up in a vehicle, its difficult to
  be sure you see everything that is directly
  behind your vehicle.

True
False
exit
40
Answer

• True. There is a blind spot directly behind every
  vehicle.

exit
41
Answer

• The blind spot is there in every vehicle, but
  its even worse
• In bigger vehicles
• For shorter drivers
• When something behind you is shortlike a small
  child

exit
42
Answer

• Whenever you drive, take extra care when you back
  up, especially if theres any likelihood a child
  could be behind your vehicle.
• Never start backing up unless you know exactly
  whats behind you.
• If this means getting out of the car to check
  behind you, do it.

exit
43
What else can you do?

• Keeping your own children safe is your first
  priority.
• But there are plenty of ways you can help protect
  other children too

exit
44
You can

• Help us build our database. E-mail us local
  stories about children who have been injured in
  the ways weve described.
• contactus_at_kidsincars.org

exit
45
You can

• Teach your older children, especially new
  drivers, to follow the Kids In Cars rules.
• Its a great way to teach a teen that driving
  carries responsibilities.

exit
46
You can

• Speak up when you see kids in danger.
• If you see kids in any of the situations weve
  described, either find the adult responsible for
  them or find another way to get the kids out of
  danger.
• It will feel awkward at first, but you can do it!

exit
47
Thanks!

• Thank you for
• Never leaving kids alone in a vehicle
• Teaching kids not to play in or around vehicles
• All you choose to do to advocate for Kids in Cars

exit
48
If you need us

• Please contact us if you feel we can help you or
  you can help us.
• www.kidsincars.org

exit