The Hawaii Police Department reminds motorists that leaving keiki alone in a vehicle can lead to tragedy — one that is always preventable.
Here are some helpful tips to ensure it doesn’t happen to your ohana.
Remember:
• Never leave a child alone in a parked car, even with the windows rolled down or the air conditioning on. A child’s body temperature can rise 3-5 times faster than an adult’s. A core body temperature of 107 degrees is lethal.
• Always look in the front and back seats of the vehicle before locking the doors and walking away.
• Heatstroke can occur in temperatures as low as 57 degrees. On an 80-degree day, temperatures inside a vehicle can reach deadly levels in just 10 minutes.
• Never let children play in an unattended vehicle. Teach them a vehicle is not a play area.
• Always lock your vehicle doors and trunk, and keep the keys out of a child’s reach. If a child is missing, quickly check all vehicles, including the trunk.
Here are some suggestions on ways to remind yourself that a child is in your vehicle:
• 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.
• Put a teddy bear in the passenger seat as a reminder to check the back seat before you exit the vehicle.
• Have your child care provider call you if your child doesn’t arrive.
• Write a note and place it on the dashboard of your car, or set a reminder on your cellphone or calendar.
• If taking your child to day care is not part of your usual routine, call your spouse or another caregiver to confirm you dropped off your child.
Kids and hot cars are a deadly combination. It’s our kuleana to protect them and keep them safe at all times.
Look before you lock.