Children Left in Hot Cars: A Tragic Reality
Tragedy struck in South Texas as two children lost their lives after being left in hot vehicles this week.
In Corpus Christi, a 22-month-old infant was found in a vehicle at a middle school on Tuesday afternoon. Despite efforts to save the child, they later succumbed to the heat at a local hospital. The child’s mother, Hilda Ann Adame, is facing charges of injury to a child and abandonment.
Tragically, less than 24 hours later, a nine-month-old in Beeville died after being left in a vehicle. Authorities are investigating this as a criminal homicide.
These incidents highlight the grave consequences of leaving children unattended in cars, especially in hot weather. This year alone, 26 children have died in hot cars nationwide, with Texas leading the tragic statistic at 158 child deaths since 1991.
Founder and President of Kids and Car Safety, Janette Fennell, emphasizes the urgent need for occupant detection technology in all vehicles to prevent such heartbreaking incidents.
To prevent such tragedies, here are important safety tips to remember:
-
Ensure your child is never left alone in a car.
-
Use visual cues like placing the child’s items in the front seat to remind you they are with you.
-
Always check the back seat before leaving the car by placing essential items in the back.
-
Have a caregiver call you immediately if your child doesn’t arrive on time.
-
Clearly assign responsibility for removing children from the vehicle to avoid confusion.
For added safety, here are ways to ensure children cannot access parked cars:
-
Always keep vehicles locked, especially in driveways and garages.
-
Never leave car keys within reach of children.
-
Install childproofing measures and door alarms to prevent children from exiting unnoticed.
-
Teach children to honk the horn or activate hazard lights if they become trapped in a car.
-
If a child goes missing, check all vehicles in the area, including locked ones, to ensure their safety.
Let’s work together to prevent such tragedies and keep our children safe. Remember, a moment of forgetfulness can have devastating consequences.
Copyright 2024 by KSAT – All rights reserved.
