According to NBC’s Health Video, heat-related injuries in New York City and elsewhere in the area are completely preventable when taking the proper safety precautions.
If you’re not careful through, serious injuries, including death, can result. One of the most vulnerable groups to these kinds of injuries are children. For the next few weeks, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will be working to raise awareness about the risks of child injury and the risks for hyperthermia and heatstroke. The campaign, “Where’s baby? Look before you lock,” is helping to remind parents, caregivers, babysitters, daycare providers and others who transport children to look in the vehicle before getting out and pressing lock.
The campaign is working to make this a new habit of all childcare-providing adults.
There were nearly 50 children who died in these kinds of accidents in 2011, being left unattended in a motor vehicle. These kinds of accidents are the number one cause of non-crash, vehicle-related fatalities for kids who are 13-years-old and younger.
Our New York City injury attorneys understand that you may not think it feels that hot out, but you’d think differently if you were left in a stationary vehicle. Children face risks of heatstroke and hyperthermia even when cars are left on, the air conditioner is on full blast and the windows are down. You don’t realize how hot it can be. This is why the new NHTSA campaign is working to get parents and childcare providers in the habit of checking the entire vehicle for children before getting out. May sound silly and you may think you can remember a kid in the car, but the truth is that it happens all the time. Now, kids are getting out of school, they’ll be riding in vehicles more often and their risks will be much higher.
“It is hope that the simple tips from this campaign will save lives and help families avoid unnecessary heartache,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.
Messages of this campaign will be popping up on radio and internet ads nationwide and will be advertising tool kits and local outreach programs designed to get parents into this habit.
According to David Strickland, NHTSA Administrator, these accidents can happen to anyone. No one’s safe.
Tips to help prevent these kinds of accidents:
-Never leave a kid in a car unattended, regardless of how short of a time you plan on leaving them.
-Look in all seats before getting out of your vehicle.
-Place reminders near the driver’s seat to remind you to check the vehicle.
-Keep important items in the back seat to force yourself to turn around before exiting the vehicle.
-Ask childcare providers to call you if your child doesn’t show up when they’re expected.
The New York City injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Nicholas Rose, PLLC offer free and confidential consultations to the victims of auto-related accidents in New York City and the surrounding areas. Call 1-877-313-7673 24 hours a day to speak with a lawyer about your case.
More Blog Entries:
Reports: Children Risk Injury in New York with Bumbo Seats, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, February 20, 2012
New Resources to Help Reduce Risks of Child Injury during Car Accidents in New York, Nation, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, January 31, 2012
