US Reaches Record Death Toll For Children Who Die in Hot Cars

In the dog days of June--and July not expected to be much better--children are being left or trapped in sweltering hot cars either unattended or while their parents run errands.  The problem with this is that it only takes about a half an hour for a child locked in a hot car to die.  That's right, only 30 minutes can induce dizziness, hyperthermia, unconsciousness, and then death. 

Why?  A vehicle's interior traps in heat quickly, usually reaching temperatures of up to 140 degrees fahrenheit within that short amount of time.  Children are incapable of handling such high temperatures, because their bodies are unable to regulate their inner core temperatures and release heat accordingly. 

We report on this incident because this June has been the worst.  In years past, the death toll from January to June for children locked in overheated cars was seventeen.  But this June, the number is already at eighteen.  This ufortunate record presents concerns for medical officials, especially because June is neither the hottest month nor does it ever see a record number of deaths.  With hotter months to come, we can only hope that we can spread awareness to other parents about the dangers of leaving children unattended in hot vehicles or leaving vehicles unlocked in the garage or other potential play areas.

On Monday June 21st, a little boy from Hineston, Alabama was playing outside with friends when he became locked in a family vehicle.  He was found in the passenger seat dead. 

Yet there are other instances where parents just forget.  About eight years ago, Melody Costello lost her infant child because he was left in a hot car.  It is believed to be a complete accident, but the father of the child had run in to work at the last minute before dropping his child off at day care.  That moment quickly became three hours before the father remembered that he was supposed to drop his child off at day care that day.  Over half of all instances are believed to be accidents by parents.

If you believe a child you love has suffered because he or she was playing without supervision or was forgotten in by a guardian that should of been caring for them, we urge you to give our law offices.  The Kansas City based child injury and accident attorneys of Roswold Law Group are committed to helping victims of child injury and accident situations, and we can help you.