With the temperatures heading near 100 across the country, it is important that kids and animals not be left in cars. As of the middle of June, 18 children have died. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, that's the highest number at this point in the year since they started to keep track 20 years ago.
Unfortunately, some of these cases involve parents forgetting the child is in the car. Kids and Cars and Safe Kids USA urge parents to check the back seat every time they exit the vehicle and to create a reminder system for themselves.
- Some parents leave their cell phone or purse on the floor near the car seat to ensure they retrieve it along with the child.
- Others remind themselves by placing a stuffed animal in the car seat when the child isn't using the seat and putting the toy in the front seat when the child is tucked in the car seat.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood highlighted the problem of hyperthermia and children in a past blog post :
Summer's Heat Requires Extra Car Safety Vigilance.
On the same day, NHTSA issued a Consumer Advisory:
Parents and Caregivers Reminded Never to Leave Children in Cars.
Others here at the Legal Examiner have also looked at the tragic events:
Some Statistics Regarding Hot Car Deaths, Jeff Rasansky | July 30, 2008 5:18 PM
It's Illegal To Leave Kids Alone In A Hot Car, Eddie Farah | July 12, 2007 11:01 PM
A founding partner with Bradshaw & Bryant, Mike Bryant has always fought to find justice for his clients—knowing that legal troubles, both personal injury and criminal, can be devastating for a family. Voted a Top 40 Personal Injury "Super Lawyer" multiple years, Mr. Bryant has also been voted one of the Top 100 Minnesota "Super Lawyers" four times.
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