NHTSA Joins the Fight to Protect Children from Hot Summer Cars

By Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. on April 11, 2012

Heatstroke can set in quickly inside a closed car in summer, even if the outdoor temperature does not seem very warm. A car sitting in the sun with its doors and windows closed heats up quickly and can reach a temperatures of over 120 degrees – enough to cause heatstroke, especially in a small child, who can suffer fatal injuries in minutes.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently unveiled a campaign to help warn parents and caregivers about the risk of heatstroke in hot cars. The campaign’s slogan is “Where’s Baby? Look Before You Lock.”

The goal of the campaign is to remind caregivers not only to remove children from cars to prevent heatstroke, but also to be aware and certain that children and pets are out of the car before closing or locking the doors. Knowing where everyone is before closing the car door prevents the mistake of locking both a child and the keys inside the car. In hot weather, the child may suffer permanent injury or death before someone can arrive to unlock the doors and release the child.

Heatstroke can cause permanent blindness, brain injuries, and loss of hearing, according to the NHTSA. The condition can be fatal to young children, who are less able to withstand extreme temperatures than adults. Thirty-nine children died of heatstroke after being left in a car in 2011.

If you or someone you love has been injured, please don’t hesitate to call the experienced Seattle child injury attorneys at Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. We will focus on investigating your situation thoroughly and fighting for the compensation you need, so that you can focus on getting well. For a free consultation, call us today at (888) 228-3860.