Hot Cars Talking Points

Talking Points

• According to Kids And Cars, more than 1,800 children died in the United States since 2001 because they were left unattended in or around cars. Some were due to the vehicle being in motion and others were due to children being trapped in trunks. About 16 percent were because children were left alone in cars during hot weather. In 2008 and 2010, Texas led the nation in the number of heat-related car deaths.
• The Centers for Disease Control reports 3,480 children (2001-2006) were injured due nontraffic, noncrash incidents.
• If children are trapped inside cars, especially during seriously hot weather, it can result in heat exhaustion or heat stroke, leading to permanent disability or death in a matter of minutes. Heat stroke, also known as hyperthermia, can cause shock, seizures, irregular heartbeat, heart attack, and damage to the brain, liver, and kidneys.
• Leaving a child unattended in a car is a form of neglectful supervision, which means: Placing a child in or failing to remove a child from a situation that a reasonable person would realize requires judgment or actions beyond the child's level of maturity, physical condition or mental abilities and that results in bodily injury or substantial risk of immediate harm to the child.
• Leaving a child in a vehicle is punishable under the Texas Penal Code, Title 5, Chapter 22, Section 10, LEAVING A CHILD IN A VEHICLE:
       (a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly leaves a child in a motor vehicle for longer than five minutes, knowing that the child is:
            1. younger than seven years of age; and
            2. not attended by an individual in the vehicle who is 14 years of age or older.
       (b) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor. Note: If the child is injured, the charge is then elevated to child endangerment, which is a felony. The penalties are six months to two years in jail and a fine up to $10,000.

How Long Does It Take For A Car to Get Hot? *

Outside Temperature	Temperature In Car	Time it Takes to Reach
75	100	10 minutes
75	120	30 minutes
85	90	5 minutes
85	100	7-10 minutes
85	120	30 minutes
100	140	15 minutes

* compiled by DFPS from various national sources

Number of Deaths Nationally Due to Car-Related Heat Stroke *

Year	Fatalities
2010	49
2009	33
2008	42
2007	35
2006	30
2005	43
2004	39
2003	42
2002	31
2001	37
2000	35

* courtesy Department of GeoSciences, San Francisco State University

Kids and Cars: How To Prevent Tragedy *

• Never leave your car keys where children can get them.
• Keep car doors and trunks locked at all times, even in the garage or driveway.
• Teach children not to play in or around cars.
• Never leave your child unattended in a car, even if the windows are down and a wind shield shade is in place or even just to run a quick errand.
• Make sure all children leave the vehicle when you reach your destination.
• Don't overlook sleeping infants!
• Make sure that the seat belt and seat surface are not too hot before buckling up your child.
• When you and your children exit the car, place a windshield shade in front and back windows to help cut down on the heat.
• Make sure that kids' arms, legs, fingers, and toes are safely inside before closing doors.
• Keep the rear fold-down seats closed to prevent kids from getting into the trunk from inside the car.
• Contact your auto dealership about getting your vehicle retrofitted with a trunk release mechanism.
• Be wary of child-resistant locks—make sure they function.
• If your child does get locked inside a car, get him or her out as soon as possible. If you can't get him or her out yourself, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.

* information adapted from Kids And Cars (www.kidsandcars.org) and National Safe Kids Campaign (www.safekids.org)