Canadian Data Shows One Child a Year Dies in Hot Cars – New Study Also Offers Guidelines for Prevention

Summer brings many potential dangers for children; these include serious health risks or even death as a result of being left unattended in a hot motor vehicle.

A new study led by The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and the University of Toronto concluded that one child dies each year across Canada, confined inside an overheated motor vehicle.

According to the study published last month in Pediatrics and Child Health, forgetfulness by a parent or a caregiver played the major role in reported fatalities.

Through information provided from provincial and territorial coroner’s offices, Canadian government agencies and media reports, six cases of vehicular hyperthermia deaths were confirmed since 2013.

Three were attributed to children left unintentionally in vehicles; one occurred after a child climbed into an unlocked vehicle and two cases are undetermined.

A child left inside a car will experience deadly internal temperature even when the outside “temperature is a relatively cool 21 or 22 degrees Celsius.”

Study co-author Dr. Joelene Huber told CTV News such accidents can happen to anyone but stressed that adopting new routines could prevent disaster.

“Never leave a child unattended in a motor vehicle, even for a minute,” she said. “That should be a rule that you make for yourself: even if I forgot something in the house, I need to run back in the house with the child.”

Dr. Huber also recommends for bystanders to call 911 immediately if they spot children alone in a motor vehicle. Even if the child appears alright.

Prevention Guidelines:

• Never leave a child unattended in a motor vehicle, even for a minute
• Arrange to have child-care providers call and sound the alarm if a child is unexpectedly absent.
• Place cellphones in the back seat whenever a child is sitting there.
• Adopt the mantra of “look before you lock”
• Get in the habit of checking the back seat whenever exiting a vehicle
• Bystanders to call 911 immediately if they spot children alone in a motor vehicle

The study also recommends adding a section on the risks of hot motor vehicles to the Rourke Baby Record (RBR). The RBR, is an information resource system many Canadian doctors recommend to parents with children up to age 5 years.