Car Caution: A Temperature Tragedy
IN INFANTS' HEALTHAccording to KidsHealth (www.kidshealth.org), children cannot regulate their body temperatures as quickly as adults. In fact, a child’s body temperature rises three to five times more quickly than an adult’s. Because the inside of a car can become much hotter than the actual temperature outside (the inside of a car can reach 125 degrees in 20 minutes), it’s especially important to protect your child from heatstroke or even death. Though heatstroke is a dangerous, even potentially deadly condition, the good news is that it’s 100 percent preventable. Follow these tips for keeping your child cool this summer. Traveling tot! Leaving your child in a parked car for even a few minutes can increase his or her risk of becoming overheated. Even if you crack the windows, the temperature inside a car can raise so quickly that the heat can become unbearable to a child. Sound sleeper? Your infant should never sleep unattended in a car. Temperature check. Car seats, with plastic and metal hooks and latches, can burn a baby’s skin. Make sure they’re not too hot when you place your child in the seat, and double-check these areas if you’re driving in a sunny or hot area. If you park your car in the sun, use a window shade or windshield reflector to decrease the temperature inside the car. Find help! If you accidentally left your child in the car, or if you think your child has heatstroke, don’t wait to get help. Because a child’s body temperature can reach 106 degrees within 15 minutes, heatstroke can permanently disable your child (or worse)!
| Hints on Preventing Heatstroke Heatstroke can occur very quickly, especially in infants. As a parent, if you know the signs, you can make quick choices for medical attention. Signs of heatstroke include the following:
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