How parents can avoid a hot car tragedy
JACKSON, Tenn. — A warning for parents of young children – As temperatures rise, so do the risk of a tragic end to accidentally leaving children in a hot car. This warning comes after a 22-month old in Georgia died in his dad’s sweltering SUV, the father is now charged with child cruelty. Even the best caretaker, though, can get distracted and make a deadly mistake. Stephanie Sturgis has her morning routine. She takes her daughter to daycare and then heads to work. Even though she can’t imagine forgetting to drop off her child, she fears what could happen. “I just make sure to put my daughter’s backpack and her lunchbox right in front of my purse in the car so I don’t walk off and forget that she’s in there,” said Sturgis. Kathie Cothern with Southwest TN Childcare Resource and Referral, works with local daycares, and said most centers will only call parents if their child is not dropped off for 2 days. Childcare specialists said they understand that the hustle and bustle of a busy morning can cause distracted parents, but they said there are some ways to make sure everyone gets to their destination safely. “Number one, is not to be distracted by talking on their cell phone or whatever when it’s time for drop off. We need to be focused on dropping the child off safe and secure,” said Cothern. When it is not in your typical routine to drop a child off, she explained the best way to remember is to put something in the back seat such as a cell phone or purse, or something you know you need to take in to work. Cothern also suggested making it a habit to walk around your vehicle every time you get out. Sturgis said adding a few extra precautionary steps to your daily routine is definitely worth it. “I just think my daughter’s my whole life and she’s my number one priority and she’s the first thing I think about and the last thing I think about every day,” said Sturgis. The non-profit safety group, “Kids and Cars”, says more than 600 children have died in a hot car since 1990.
