TUCSON, Ariz. - Every nine days, a child left in a hot car, dies from vehicular heatstroke.
“It all fits the same pattern: memory gets suppressed temporarily and we lose awareness of the child is in the car," David Diamond.
Neuroscientist, David Diamond has been studying the science behind this common memory failure that can have tragic consequences.
"And we know this is clearly related to the competition between the different brain memory systems. We have powerful brain autopilot brain memory system and gets us to do things automatically and it gets us to do things automatically and in that process we lose awareness of other things in our mind, including that there’s a child in the car," says Diamond.
And Consumer Reports explains that even on a mild day, this can have tragic consequences.
“The temperature inside a closed vehicle can reach dangerously high levels in less than an hour," says Consumer Reports Car Seat Expert, Emily Thomas Ph.D.. This is unsafe for children and small babies because their body temperature rises three to five times faster than adults and they are unable to efficiently regulate their body temperature.”
And because a tragedy like this can happen to anyone, CR says it’s best to create a routine with reminders for yourself every time you drive.
“We encourage parents to make a habit of everyday putting a laptop bag or a lunchbox in the back seat, even if your child is not with you. Doing this will force you to visit the backseat after every trip.”
Or keep a sippy cup or your child’s coat up front with you.
“Some people go so far as to say put a shoe in the back seat. Give yourself a cue so that when you get out of the car you have that reminder," says Diamond.
Consumer Reports says you should also have a plan that your childcare provider or child’s school will call you if your child does not show up. There’s a bill making its way around congress called the HOT CARS Act. It would require cars to come equipped with technology that alerts drivers if a child is left in the backseat after the ignition is turned off. Consumer Reports says concerned parents can reach out to their federal lawmakers!
