A child should NEVER be in or near a car without an adult there to watch over them. During warmer months, children left unattended by adults in cars by themselves are more likely to suffer heat-related illnesses from the heat.
Even if it's not very cold outside, hyperthermia can happen in a car. When the outside temperature is between 60- and 70-degrees Fahrenheit, the inside of a car can quickly reach temperatures that are dangerous and life-threatening. Sunlight can make the temperature inside the car rise even more quickly.
The temperature rising in the car is very dangerous for young children. Three to five times faster than an adult, a young child's body temperature rises. Rolling the windows down a few inches is not enough to keep a car cool and well-ventilated, and parents and/or caregivers should NEVER leave their children alone in a car.
When a person's body temperature goes above 104 degrees Fahrenheit and their cooling system can't keep them cool, they develop hyperthermia. When the body's temperature reaches 107 degrees Fahrenheit, organs start to shut down, which can be fatal.
Some signs of heatstroke are:
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Being fussy or irritable
- Heartbeat too fast or too slow and weak
- flushed hot, dry skin
- Sluggishness
- Seizures
We here at H&H Child Care understand the gravity of keeping our children safe, especially during the upcoming hot summer months, and have created Transportation Safety class that meets many state requirements.
H & H Child Care Training (ChildCareEd) Courses grant .2 CEUs or more as well as awarding state-approved clock hours of 2 or more for all childcare centers, and family childcare providers in many states. Check with your licensing agency to check for any additional requirements and to see if we are approved in your home state. Click on childcareed.com to learn more and schedule your next class today!
References:
Keeping children safe in and around cars. ECLKC. (2021, September 22). Retrieved June 23, 2022, from https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/transportation/article/keeping-children-safe-around-cars