Big Island police are reminding drivers to check for baby when operating a vehicle, especially when you stop and get out.
Big Island police are reminding drivers to “check for baby” when operating a vehicle, especially when you stop and get out.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, children dying from heatstroke because they were left in a hot car have reached a record number.
In 2018, 52 children lost their lives — the most in 20-plus years. The 11th such death this year was reported June 8.
More than half of vehicular heatstroke cases from 1998-2018 were because an adult forgot about a child, according to NoHeatstroke.org.
Among the trends the group discovered in these incidents:
• About 44% of the time, the caregiver meant to drop the child off at day care or preschool. The end of the work week — Thursdays and Fridays — saw the highest number of deaths.
Tips for adults with keiki in the car:
• Place a briefcase, purse or cellphone next to the child’s car seat so you’ll always check the back seat before leaving the car.
• Keep a stuffed animal or another memento in your child’s car seat when it’s empty. Move it to the front seat as a visual reminder when your child is in the back seat.
• Set a rule for your child care provider. Have them call you if your child doesn’t arrive as scheduled.
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