The Dangers of Leaving Children in Hot Cars

It’s a tragedy that occurs too often. A parent leaves the car only to realize their child is still in the back seat. Many times, it’s too late and it’s already happened this year in our state.
With summer now a month away, Gulfport Public Information Officer Sergeant Damon McDaniel sat down with News 25 to talk about the dangers and repercussions of leaving your child or pet alone in your vehicle.
It could be a change in your daily routine or a simple run inside the store and then reality hits you, you left your toddler alone in the back seat. “We live in a very busy society, a very busy world. We get caught up in some of the things that we’re doing and when you get caught up in that, you get distracted and you forget. We’re human,” said Sgt. McDaniel.
Maybe you figure it out in time, but maybe it’s too late. That was the case for one Madison County mother last week. Authorities say she accidentally left her two-year-old daughter in the car all day. As summer approaches, Sgt. McDaniel says there are ways to prevent it from happening. “If things are out of the norm for you to do when it comes down to driving the kids to school or running errands with the children or dropping them off to and from preschool or daycare, do something else that’s going to remind you. Set an alarm on your phone, have your spouse or girlfriend or boyfriend, whomever, have them call you just to make sure things like that don’t occur when you’re talking about someone’s life.”
Mississippi ranks 16th with the most child vehicular heatstroke deaths, totaling 16 fatalities from 1995 until now. This year, six children have died in hot cars nationwide.
Even on a spring day with outside temperatures at 80 degrees and windows slightly rolled down, a car can reach deadly temperatures in just ten minutes. “We just want people to be cautious because we’re talking about the life of someone else who can’t control that situation: small children,” said Sgt. McDaniel.