It happens fast. The temperature in a sitting car can rise 40 degrees in less than 30 minutes—and an unattended child inside could suffer heat stroke or possibly die while a caregiver runs into the store.
Safe Kids Inland Empire Coalition used a car, thermometer, and various foods to make the dangers of such a situation visual to members of the media and their viewers and readers. The demonstration took place in front of LLU Children’s Hospital August 13.
Real butter, ice cream, chocolate, and leafy vegetables were placed inside a van that was attached to a digital thermometer measuring the temperature inside and outside. After roughly 30 minutes the items—which had obviously been damaged—were removed and placed on display.
Don Moores, MD, pediatric trauma surgeon at LLU Medical Center, explained the step-by-step physiological process a child—much like the melted butter and ice cream—can experience if exposed to extreme heat, as well as the signs, symptoms, treatments, and outcomes.
“A child’s body heats up much more quickly that an adult’s, which means children are more susceptible to injury if left in a hot car,” Dr. Moore said.
"When a child's internal temperature hits 104 degrees, internal organs start shutting down," said Clark Morrow, crime prevention coordinator for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. "When a child's temperature reaches 107 degrees, fatalities can occur."
Reporters from media outlets including ABC7, KCAL9/CBS2, and the San Bernardino Sun came to the event.
In 2001, Kaitlyn’s Law was passed in memory of 6-month-old Kaitlyn Russell, who died after being left in a hot van. The law made it illegal to leave a child 6 or younger in a car without the supervision of someone at least 12 years old, but the reality is that parents and caregivers still do it—and it needs to stop.
Nearly 600 children have died nationwide from heat stroke inside a parked car. Fifty-two percent of those children were forgotten by their caregiver; 29 percent were playing in an unattended vehicle; and 18 percent of them were intentionally left in the car.