I recently shared a cup of tea with Mary Parks, a parent who lives near me.  Mary has a painful story she is willing to share with Macaroni Kid readers in the hopes of preventing a tragedy like the one her family has endured.

Four years ago, Mary’s two sons had been ill on and off for a couple weeks.  Mary, an accountant, and her husband Jeff both worked full time and traded off caring for the boys at home.  When their youngest child Juan was feeling better, Jeff stayed home with their oldest while Mary headed to drop Juan off at daycare on her way to work. The unusual circumstances altered her commute, Juan feel asleep in his car seat, and Mary drove to work as if on auto pilot, thinking she had already left Juan at day care. In her mind, that’s exactly where he was.  Mary remembers telling a family member who called that day how happy she was Juan was well enough to return to daycare.  After work, Mary drove to the daycare to pick her boy up; totally unaware Juan had died of heat stroke in the back seat.  He was 22 months old. 

 Mary said she finds there are two types of people: those who cannot imagine how such a thing could happen, and those who easily can imagine it.  I’m in the latter category.  I spent last 7 years driving my kids to daycare before work each morning, and picking them up after work, and I too was on auto pilot most of the time.  It could have been my children, or yours, and I’m appreciative Mary has the courage to share her story with us.  Like most parents who have lost a child in this terrible manner Mary is a devoted mother, and car safety has always been at the top of her list.  In fact she brought her Ford to the dealership to have a tether bolt latch installed for Juan’s car seat.  Vehicular heat stroke can happen to any family. In some cases children are inadvertently left by parents or caregivers, and in other cases children climb into parked cars and become trapped. 

 Like many of you, my heart bleeds for this family.  I was astounded to learn how common this type of death is- 49 American children died last year due to vehicular heat stroke.  When you consider contributing factors it may become more apparent how this is possible. Did you know a child’s body temperature rises up to 5 times faster than an adult’s? Even with the windows rolled down a bit, the temperature inside a parked car can reach 125 degrees in minutes!  Other contributing factors include a change in routine, lack of sleep, stress, and distractions. When these factors combine, the ability for the brain to multi-task is diminished.  And young children often fall asleep in their car seats becoming quiet. In the case of rear facing car seats, they make look the same with or without an occupant. 

 Mary now spends a great deal of time and effort volunteering for Kids and Cars, a national non-profit devoted to the safety of children in and around vehicles.  Here’s how we all can help: First, please take a moment visit  www.Kidsandcars.org.  The public service announcements here make an unforgettable impression and I hope you will watch some.  Next, take a moment to read the safety checklist below, and share it with others, especially new parents and caregivers.  And last, please keep the Parks family and others who have lost children in your thoughts and prayers.

Safety Tips from KidsAndCars.org

• Never leave children alone in or around cars; not even for a minute.

• Put something you'll need like your cell phone, handbag, employee ID or brief case, etc., on the floor board in the back seat.

• Get in the habit of always opening the back door of your vehicle every time you reach your destination to make sure no child has been left behind. This will soon become a habit. This is the “Look before You Lock” campaign.

• Keep a large stuffed animal in the child's car seat when it’s not occupied. When the child is placed in the seat, put the stuffed animal in the front passenger seat. It's a visual reminder that anytime the stuffed animal is up front you know the child is in the back seat in a child safety seat.

• Make arrangements with your child’s day care center or babysitter that you will always call if your child will not be there on a particular day as scheduled.

o This is common courtesy and sets a good example that everyone who is involved in the care of your child is informed of their whereabouts on a daily basis. Ask them to phone you if your child doesn't show up when expected. Many children’s lives could have been saved with a telephone call from a concerned child care provider. Give child care providers all your telephone numbers, including that of an extra family member or friend, so they can always confirm the whereabouts of your child.

• Keep vehicles locked at all times; even in the garage or driveway and always set your parking brake.

• Keys and/or remote openers should never be left within reach of children.

• Make sure all child passengers have left the vehicle after it is parked.

• When a child is missing, check vehicles and car trunks immediately.

• If you see a child alone in a vehicle, get involved. If they are hot or seem sick, get them out as quickly as possible. Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.

• Be especially careful about keeping children safe in and around cars during busy times, schedule changes and periods of crisis or holidays.

• Use drive-thru services when available. (restaurants, banks, pharmacies, dry cleaners, etc.)

• Use your debit or credit card to pay for gas at the pump.

• For additional information about ways to keep children safe in and around vehicles, visit our website at www.KidsAndCars.org

 Mary is available to speak to family groups about Kids And Cars, and may be contacted at maryp@kidsandcars.org