MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930
The Prince Georges County Fire/EMS Department RemindsEveryone
of theRisksof HeatstrokeinChildren
Never LeaveYour ChildAlonein aCar
WejointhefamiliesandtheentireBaltimore/Washingtoncommunityin mourningthe deaths of twoyoungchildrenwhowereleft insideof carsforhours inthesummerheat. Across thecountry, 19childrenhavediedinthis manner in2013. Achild’s temperature canrisefivetimesfasterthananadult’s can.Inaclosedcar, thetemperaturegoes up 19degrees every10minutes.
Toooftenwhenthistypeof tragedyoccurs wehear“Whocouldhavedonethat—it couldneverhappentome.”Therealityis it canhappentoanyone, andithappensyear- roundacross theUSAandCanada.Insteadofquestioningwhy, pleaseeducate everyoneyoutalk withthis week.
Unfortunately, nooneis immunetothis kindof tragedy. Parents andcaregivers cancut downthenumberof deathsandnearmissesbyrememberingtoACT.
• Avoid heat stroke-relatedinjuryanddeathby:
o Never leavingyourchildaloneinthecar—evenforaminute
o Consistentlylockingunattendedvehicledoorsandtrunkstokeepchildren
fromenteringvehicles alone.
• Createremindersand habitsthat giveyouandyourchild’s caregiverasafety net:
o Placeapurse, briefcase, gymbag, cell phone, oran itemthat isneededat
yournext stop, intheback seat.
o Set thealarmonyourcell phoneorcomputercalendarasareminderto dropyourchildoff at childcare.
o Establishapeace-of-mindplan.Whenyoudropoffyourchild,makea habit ofcallingortextingall othercaregivers soall of youknow whereyour childis atall times.
• Takeaction ifyouseeanunattendedchildinavehicle:
o Dial 9-1-1immediatelyandfollowtheinstructions thatemergency personnel provide.Theyaretrainedtodetermineifachildis indanger. Onecall couldsavealife.
The Prince Georges County Fire/EMS Department, EMSfor Children’s Programat MIEMSS,andSafeKidsMarylandCoalitionhave joinedwiththeNational HighwayTraffic SafetyAdministration(NHTSA)andSafeKids Worldwideinaneffort toreducethesedeathsbyremindingparents andcaregivers about thedangers of heatstrokeinyoungchildren.
SafeKids coalitionsandchaptersacross Marylandwill beeducatingfamilies onthe dangers of kids left aloneincars.Theyareaskingthatflyers beplacedinprimarycare practices,emergencydepartments,daycares, andsummercamps.
Foradditional informationonHeat StrokeAwareness Dayandkeepingkids safe incars, visit NHTSA’s “ParentsCentral”siteat www.safercar.gov/parents/Home.htmandSafe KidsWorldWide“BuckleUp”siteat www.safekids.org/heatstroke.
