By Jennifer Keiper, WLS-AM 890 News
(CHICAGO) The National Safety Council has released a report saying 42 children died as a result of being left in hot cars last year–up from 39 in 2016.
To keep the number from getting any higher, “We want to encourage people to put reminders in their vehicles. Put your cellphone in the backseat. You can even put your left shoe in the backseat and, again, the parents are saying they were just on autopilot. We want parents to always look before you lock,” said National Safety Council Senior Program Manager Amy Artuso.
The report highlights the three main circumstances that result in pediatric vehicular hyperthermia: Fifty-five percent were parents or other caregivers unknowingly leaving a child behind, 27% were children gaining access to a car on their own, and 18% were parents or caregivers purposely leaving a child inside.
The National Safety Council says just 21 states have laws regarding the issue. The group is calling on states to either pass legislation or improve existing legislation to protect children.
@ 2018 WLS-AM News
