Oak Creek Insurance Agency

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IN: Keeping Your Child Safe In The Car

Dear Valued Customer,

In this issue of “——————————–” we focus on child safety in your car.

There are numerous dangers around your vehicle that could seriously harm or even kill your child. Read on to read the six most common dangers that even the most careful parents can overlook, and some tips on how to avoid them. They include: backover; seat belt entanglement; heatstroke; trunk entrapment; power windows, and; vehicle rollaway.

We appreciate your continued business and look forward to serving you.

Kind regards,

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Safe For Life

People_AsianDadAndSonYou’ve done your research on keeping your child safe in the car, and on the road. You shopped for the safest car when you started a family. You read up on car seats for kids and figured out which one worked best for you and your family. You even took your car and car seat to a seat-checking station to let an expert check and approve of your handiwork.

But did you know there are other dangers in and around your vehicle that could seriously harm or even kill your child?

We’ve identified six common dangers that even the most careful parents can overlook, and some tips on how to avoid them:

Backover

A back over incident typically occurs when a car coming out of a driveway or parking space backs over a child. More…

Seat Belt Entanglement

A child may become entangled in a seat belt if they pull the seat belt all the way out and wraps the belt around their head, neck, or waist. More…

Heatstroke

Children die each year from heatstroke, after entering the vehicle unnoticed or being left alone in the vehicle. More…

Trunk Entrapment

Children being entrapped in vehicle trunks can suffer heatstroke, asphyxiation and death. To avoid entrapment heed the following safety and prevention tips. More…

Power Windows

Children can hurt themselves when a window closes on their finger, wrist, or hand. Some kids have been strangled by power windows. More…

Vehicle Rollaway

A vehicle can rollaway when the key is left in the ignition and the driver’s foot is not on the brake. More…

 

Source: NHTSA. “Safe for Life.” http://www.safercar.govwebsite. Accessed November 30, 2015. http://www.safercar.gov/parents/InandAroundtheCar.htm

© Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.

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Leaving Kids Alone In Hot Cars — Know The Risks & Consequences

Transportation_ChildCarSeatEven great parents can forget a child in the back seat, but caregivers who are unaccustomed to transporting children are especially prone to forgetting.

Think about the last time your routine was interrupted. Maybe you forgot something, or were afraid you might forget something. Or maybe you decided to leave your child alone in the car, thinking “I’ll just run into the store for a minute.” In either case, it’s important to know the risks and consequences associated with leaving kids in cars — especially hot cars.

Risks

  • In 10 minutes, a car can heat up 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Cracking a window does little to keep the car cool.
  • With temperatures in the 60s, your car can heat up to well above 110 degrees.
  • A child’s body temperature can rise up to five times faster than an adult’s.
  • Heatstroke can happen when the temperature is as low as 57 degrees outside!
  • A child dies when his/her temperature reaches 107.

Consequences

  • The heat-related death of a child
  • Misdemeanor with fines as high as $500 — and even imprisonment — in some states
  • Felony, depending on the state, if bodily harm results from leaving kids alone in a hot car
  • Note: The age of children who can be left unattended in a vehicle varies from state to state, as does the duration of time a child can be left alone in a car.

Prevention Tips to Avoid a Tragic Heatstroke

  • Never leave a child alone in a car.
  • Don’t let your kids play in an unattended vehicle. Teach them that a vehicle is not a play area.
  • Never leave infants or children in a parked vehicle, even if the windows are partially open.
  • Keep a large teddy bear or other stuffed animal in the car seat when it’s empty. Move the teddy bear to the front seat when you place the child in the seat as a visual reminder.
  • If you are dropping your children off at childcare, but normally your spouse or partner drops them off, have your spouse or partner call you to make sure they were not left in the car.
  • Become vigilant about looking in the vehicle before locking the door. Always look front and back before walking away — always!

Parents and Caregivers

BYSTANDERS

If you see a young child locked in a parked car for more than 5 minutes:

  • First make sure the child is okay and responsive. If not, call 911 immediately.
  • If the child appears okay, you should attempt to locate the parents; or have the facility’s security or management page the car owner over the PA system.
  • If there is someone with you, one person should actively search for the parent while the other waits at the car.
  • If the child is not responsive and appears in great distress, attempt to get into the car to assist the child, even if that means breaking a window.
  • If the child is in distress due to heat, get the child out of the car as quickly as possib5e. Cool the child rapidly (not in an ice bath) by spraying the child with cool water.

DON’T BE AFRAID TO ACT

States have “Good Samaritan” laws that protect people from lawsuits for getting involved while helping a person in an emergency.

Safety Advocates and Professionals

Get Involved

Join NHTSA in tackling this important safety issue. Visit our Get Involved page for downloadable materials and assets for parents, caregivers, safety advocates and all those who want to help protect children from needlessly dying in hot cars.

Source: NHTSA. “Leaving Kids Alone in Hot Cars — Know the Risks and Consequences.” http://www.safercar.govwebsite. Accessed November 30, 2015. http://www.safercar.gov/parents/heatstroke.htm

© Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.

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Beyond Booster Seats: Seat Belts

People_FamilyHouseCarThe decision point for transitioning your child out of a booster seat and into a seat belt usually comes when the child is between 8 to 12 years old: Keep your children in booster seats until they outgrow the size limits of the booster seats or are big enough to fit properly in seat belts.

For a child to properly fit a seat belt, your child must:

  • Be tall enough to sit without slouching
  • Be able to keep his or her back against the vehicle seat
  • Be able to keep his or her knees naturally bent over the edge of the vehicle seat,
  • Be able to keep his or her feet flat on the floor
Additionally:
  • The lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach;
  • The shoulder belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest, and not cross the neck or face
  • Never let a child put the shoulder belt under the arm or behind the backs, because it could cause severe injuries in a crash
  • Keep your child in the back seat because it is safer there

Always check belt fit on the child in every vehicle. A booster seat may be needed in some vehicles and not in others. If the seat belt does not fit properly the child should continue to use a booster seat.

A Simple Fit for Safety: Shoulder, Lap, in the Back

The transition to a seat belt gives you another opportunity to teach your child about safety. The first message is simple: Even though your child is now the right size to fit a seat belt, the safest place to ride in the car is still in the back seat — buckled up.

As a parent, you influence your kids by modeling safe driving practices, including buckling up every time you get in the car. Teach your family that safety is the responsibility of all passengers as well as the driver.

Source: NHTSA. “Beyond Booster Seats: Seat Belts” http://www.safercar.govwebsite. Accessed November 30, 2015. http://www.safercar.gov/parents/seatbelts.htm

© Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.