Q: We had an awful case this spring of a child dying of heat stroke after being left in a car by the mother. I hear of these on the news from time to time, and I wonder how common this is.
A: An average of 38 children die every year of heat stroke from being left in cars, according to KidsandCars.org, which monitors these things.
This year the numbers may, unfortunately, be much higher. During the month of May, seven children died, the group says, and it was not even the heart of the summer, when, traditionally, the greatest number of such tragedies occur.
Officials in Broward County, Fla., are so concerned about children dying as a result of being left in cars, they launched a billboard campaign on the topic this year.
Most of the incidents happen when a parent or caregiver alters routines or is especially preoccupied, and, completely forgetting that the child was in the back seat, parks the car and goes about his or her business. So one of the tips the group offers is to always put something into the back seat that you absolutely must take with you when you park. When you reach in to get it you’ll be reminded that you’re not alone.
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