When it comes to car safety, auto insurance is just one piece of the puzzle. You’ve probably heard of the dangers of sitting in a hot car, but do you know how deadly it is? In 2019, 52 children died after being left in hot vehicles. That was one less than the previous year. In each of these cases, the children died of heatstroke after being left in a car. Children aren’t the only ones at risk; pets can also die of heatstroke after being left in a hot car.
Get some information on hot car death prevention so that you can protect your loved ones and avoid any potential legal or financial issues that may arise.
Know What Not to Leave in a Hot Car
Many people knowingly leave their kids or dogs in a hot car while they run into the store. They might even leave their napping kids in the vehicle while it’s parked in the driveway. Never leave kids or pets in a hot car, even if it’s only for a few minutes.
You might wonder, “just how hot can a car get in a few minutes?” It doesn’t take long for a vehicle to become deadly. If it’s 72 degrees outside, the interior can reach 117 degrees in one hour. Eighty percent of the increase will happen in a half-hour.
Place Something You Need in the Backseat
More often than not, parents accidentally leave their kids in the backseat because they forget they are there. You can avoid this by putting something that you must have in the backseat next to the car seat. It can be your purse, briefcase, cellphone, work badge, or anything else necessary.
Ask Your Childcare Provider for Help
Parents who aren’t used to taking their kids to childcare might forget to drop them off. Then, the parents go to work and leave the baby in the hot car. It won’t take long for the hot car temperature to rise and pose a risk to the child. Avoid this by having your childcare provider contact you if your child isn’t dropped off. Then, if you forget your child in the vehicle, you will remember and can fix the situation.
Keep Your Car Locked
Locking your doors should be a part of your hot car death prevention strategy. Your kids might climb in your vehicle when it’s in the driveway or garage. They could play for a while and then fall asleep, putting them at risk for a hot car death. Keep your car locked, including the trunk, and hide the keys.
Take Action
If you see a pet or a baby in a hot car, take action. You probably wonder if you can break into a car to save a dog or a baby. It depends on where you live. Some states have Good Samaritan laws on the books that allow you to do this. However, regardless of where you live, you can call 911 to report the situation. Then, law enforcement can step in and save the baby or pet.
Keep Your Kids and Pets Safe
Include these tips in your hot car death prevention strategy. The right approach will keep your kids and pets safe.
If you’re ready to get back on the road, Freeway can help you make the process fast and easy. The best part is you could save up to $839*. Don’t wait any longer, start your quote online, over the phone, or visit one of our offices today.
*Based on a Q1 2020 study of Freeway Insurance customers who reported saving when they switched.
