This post was sponsored by Auto Alliance as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.
I’ve heard a story on the news.
I’ve read an article on Facebook.
I can’t tell you how many times i’ve thought “this won’t happen to me.”
I would never… This could never. You never think something will happen to YOU. I don’t know about you, but I have been guilty of thinking this so many times. Just last week, I was talking to a mom friend that said, “You just never think something like this will happen to you as a parent.” From small things like a tantrum in the grocery store or forgetting your diaper bag to larger things like your child breaking a bone or getting lost in a store. You just can’t picture the event happening on your watch. You love your children fiercely, you would do anything to protect them, you watch them 24/7…. and you never think it will happen to you.
Yet, every year in the U.S., too many children die accidentally when left in a hot car alone. According to date, an average of 37 young lives are lost each year being left unattended in an automobile and it breaks my heart. Many of these cases involve kids being left in a car by mistake. In 75% of these cases, the child is under the age of two and 50% are under the age of one.
As a parent, its so extremely heartbreaking to hear about these accidents. And, my first thought could be “this would never happen to me”, or it could be “how could I raise awareness and help this on the forefront of parents minds.” To help raise more awareness about the dangers of heatstroke in automobiles, the Auto Alliance has launched a campaign in support of the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) “Look Before You Lock: Never Leave A Child Alone in a Car” outreach letter. This letter is encouraging the public to ACT to prevent heatstroke with the following suggestions:
- A-Avoid: Avoid heatstroke-related injury and death by never leaving your child alone in a car, not even for a minute. A child’s body can heat up three- to five-times faster than that of an adult. Also, be sure to keep your car locked when you’re not in it, so kids don’t get in on their own. Even when the outside temperature is only 70 degrees, the inside of a parked car can still heat up to 120 degrees within just 15 minutes. And, that’s with the windows open. This can be lethal especially for children, because a child’s body can heat up three- to five-times faster than that of an adult.
- C-Create Reminders: This is HUGE!! It might sound funny but creating reminders is so important. A friend of mine once told me when she is busy or stressed with work, she leaves one shoe in the back seat with her child so she always remembers to grab them as well. You can do this with a shoe, briefcase, purse or cell phone that is needed at your final destination for a little reminder. This is especially important if you’re not following your normal routine or busy/stressed.
- T-Take Action: If you see a child alone in a car, call 911. They are trained to respond to these situations and your call could save a life.
Instead of thinking “this won’t happen to me”, share this article or tell a friend about the Auto Alliance and their Look Before You Lock campaign. It’s time to A-C-T!
