In recognition of National Heatstroke Prevention Awareness Day on Wednesday, July 31, Insurance Commissioner and Safe Kids N.C. Chairman Mike Causey encourages the media to attend a demonstration that shows the danger of leaving a child in a hot car for just minutes.
Using a large digital thermometer to display the temperature inside and outside a vehicle, the Safe Kids N.C. team will roast s'mores inside the vehicle to demonstrate how temperatures can quickly climb to dangerous levels.
This year, a total of 24 children have died in the U.S. related to heatstroke including one in North Carolina, when a nine-month old boy in the Winston-Salem area was accidentally left in a hot car.
"The unfortunate thing is that these tragedies are completely avoidable," said Commissioner Causey. "By taking simple steps, we can help one another prevent the tragedy of child heatstroke."
In the last 20 years, more than 800 children in the U.S. have died from heatstroke. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, children are more at risk of heatstroke as their body heat rises three to five times faster than an adult.
The children who have died from vehicular heatstroke in the United States (1998-2018) have ranged in age from 5 days to 14 years. More than half of the deaths (54%) are children under 2 years of age.
On an 80-degree day, the inside of a closed car can, within minutes, exceed 100 degrees. Cracking a window does not help keep the inside of a car cool.
Awareness campaigns, such as Safe Kids N.C.'s “Baby, It's Hot Inside”, along with hot car displays, help educate the public on the grave dangers of leaving a child inside a vehicle if only for a short time.
Here is the itinerary for Wednesday's event:
WHO: Safe Kids N.C./Mid-Carolina's
WHERE:
Pinehurst Splash Pad
Rassie Wicker Park
10 Rassie Wicker Park Dr.
Pinehurst, N.C. 28374
WHAT:
To educate the public on the dangers of leaving a child in the car even for a short time to alleviate injuries and deaths due to heatstroke.
WHY:
Commissioner Mike Causey along with the Safe Kids North Carolina and Safe Kids Mid-Carolinas team want to bring awareness to prevent deaths and injuries caused by child heatstroke.
WHEN: Wednesday, July 31, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Safe Kids North Carolina reaches out to parents, caregivers and children in 71 counties served by 46 coalitions across the state. For more safety tips and information about Safe Kids North Carolina, visit www.ncsafekids.org.