Safe Kids Prince George’s Statement on Heatsroke Deaths in Cars

Press Release - Rapid Response

2016

Safe Kids Prince George’s Statement on Heatsroke Deaths in Cars

We join the communities and families of young children that suffer heatstroke deaths  in mourning their loss. To gain perspective on such a tragic incident, we ask that concerned citizens read “Fatal Distraction:  Forgetting a Child in the Back seat of a Car Is a Horrifying Mistake.  Is It a Crime?” by Gene Weingarten, Washington Post Staff Writer.

Unfortunately, no one is immune to this kind of tragedy. Parents and caregivers can cut down the number of deaths and near misses by remembering to ACT. 

·         A: Avoid heatstroke-related injury and death by never leaving your child alone in a car, not even for a minute. And make sure to keep your car locked when you’re not in it so kids don’t get in on their own.  

·         C: Create reminders by putting something in the back of your car next to your child such as a briefcase, a purse or a cell phone that is needed at your final destination. This is especially important if you’re not following your normal routine. 

·         T: Take action. If you see a child alone in a car, call 911. Emergency personnel want you to call. They are trained to respond to these situations. One call could save a life.

Safe Kids Prince George’s  is working to ensure that no child is alone in a car, not even for a minute. We’re participating in an education and awareness program that provides posters and tip sheets at childcare centers, doctor’s offices and hospitals and police and fire stations.  

Since 1998, more than 660 children across the United States have died from heatstroke while unattended in cars. You can help us spread the word to your community to stop these preventable tragedies. Additional prevention information can be found at www.safekids.org/heatstroke, and statistics on child heatstroke deaths can be found at www.noheatstroke.org   

About Safe Kids – Prince George’s

Safe Kids Prince George’s works to prevent unintentional childhood injury, the leading cause of death and disability to children.  Safe Kids Prince George’s is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global organization dedicated to preventing unintentional injury, the number one cause of death to children in the United States. Throughout the world, almost one million children die of injuries each year, and every one of these tragedies is preventable. Safe Kids Prince George’s is led by Fire/EMS Department. For additional information call Teresa Crisman, Safe Kids Coordinator, at 301-883-5250 or Email at TACrisman@co.pg.md.us.

About General Motors and Safe Kids Buckle Up

Beginning in 1997, General Motors and the GM Foundation have served as Safe Kids Worldwide’s exclusive funding source and helped build the Safe Kids Buckle Up program into a multifaceted national initiative, bringing motor vehicle safety messages to children and families through community and dealer partnerships.  To date, more than 23 million people have been exposed to Safe Kids Worldwide events and community outreach efforts. Certified child passenger safety technicians working through Safe Kids coalitions have examined over 1.89 million child safety seats at more than 94,000 events, and the program has donated more than 667,000 seats to families in need.