BABIES & CARS
On a hot and humid day it can take as little as 15 minutes for a baby to become dehydrated while sitting in a parked car with no ventilation.
Children less than a year old are especially at risk and can quickly suffer serious injuries such as seizures, permanent brain damage or death.
Always remember: Young children should NEVER be left alone in a vehicle - no matter what the weather!
Ten reasons to NEVER leave a child alone in a car!
- Temperatures inside your vehicle can rise by as much as 30°F in the first 10-15 minutes.
- Your baby could suffer heat stroke, exhaustion, rash, dehydration, even brain damage or death.
- A thief could steal your car, not realizing or not caring that your child is still in it. This could happen in under 60 seconds.
- You are putting your child at risk of being kidnapped.
- Children are naturally curious and could climb into the driver's seat to "play."
- It is against the law. In the criminal code, "abandoning child" refers to children under the age of ten.
- Car accidents sometimes involve parked cars. In the event your unattended car is involved in an accident, common sense says baby is ALWAYS better off with you.
- Leaving windows down for baby does not help much to keep the car cool. It does expose your baby to small animals and insects, putting her/him at risk for bites and stings.
- If your baby is left unattended in a soiled diaper, a painful blistery diaper rash could result.
- Your baby would feel abandoned and frightened if he/she woke up alone. Why would any parent want to cause their child this emotional stress?
If you are driving a bus or van, don't forget to check all seats for sleeping children before you leave your vehicle.