August is Purple Ribbon Month reminding you to NEVER Leave Your Child Alone in a Car.
Never leaving your child alone in a vehicle may seem like common sense but it happens. Sheeple often forget to take kids out of the car with them to run errands because they simply get too busy or don’t want to go through the trouble for a quick trip to the bank or market. In January of 2002 Kaitlin’s Law made it illegal to leave your kids unattended in a vehicle. Too often children will die because of hyperthermia, the car turns into an oven especially during the hot months of the year and kids are really vulnerable to their bodies overheating.
Why did we need a law making this kind of thing illegal? Because it happens more often than you think. My friends in the Law Enforcement Community have some words of wisdom for you to make sure a child never suffers the tragic death by being left in a car because of an irresponsible parent. Read their comments below.
“For years, August has been designated as Purple Ribbon Month to remind parents and caregivers about the dangers of leaving children in vehicles. Kaitlyn’s Law, effective January 2002, made it illegal to leave a child under 7 unattended inside a motor vehicle. Purple ribbons serve as a reminder to never leave your child unattended in a vehicle, not even for a minute, not even a second!
During the summer months, temperatures spike and children are left in vehicles that can reach up to 120 degrees even on a moderately cool day. A child’s body heats up 3-5 times faster than an adult’s body and can rise to 106 degrees within 10-15 minutes of being left in a hot vehicle. Since February of this year, 24 deaths have been reported in the U.S. due to hyperthermia.
Law enforcement officials recommend these prevention tips:
• If you see a child unattended in a vehicle, call 911.
• Make “look before you leave” a routine and check the back seat every time you get out of the vehicle. Don’t overlook sleeping babies.
• Make arrangements for your day care provider to call within 30 minutes if your child has NOT been dropped off.
• Always lock your vehicle and make sure children do not have access to keys. If a child is missing, always check the pool first and then the vehicle, including the trunk.
• Never let children play inside the vehicle.”
Don’t let your kids be the victims of sheeple syndrome. Your child’s life is more important than getting a few more errands done in a day.
To Your Surviving and Thriving,
MaryAnne Morcos, The Urban Survival Chick
