According to the National Safety Council, an average of 30 children die each year as a result of hyperthermia in automobiles. Many of the deaths result from caregiver forgetfulness — often an infant left behind in the back seat by a responsible adult who was simply distracted.  An article I wrote for Sunday’s Automobiles section considered ways to prevent these heat-caused deaths, which can occur even when the weather is mild. Assembling data for the article was unpleasant from the beginning, but as the publication date drew close, reports of hyperthermia deaths began arriving at my desk at an alarming rate, making the task ever more stressful.  On April 30, The Dallas Morning News reported that 7-month-old Brianna Jones had died after she was accidentally left in the back seat of a car parked in the driveway of a caregiver’s home. Brianna was to have been taken to a day-care center by a family friend. When other errands distracted the caregiver, the infant was forgotten. Soon thereafter, she was dead.  On May 27, The Associated Press reported that a 9-month old girl had died in Columbus, Ohio. A 70-year-old family member who had been taking care of the infant forgot that she was inside a vehicle. The outside temperature reached 87 degrees that day. By the time anyone noticed the child was missing, she had died.  On the same day, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram said a missing 18-month-old boy had been found dead of hyperthermia in a neighbor’s car. The circumstances that resulted in the child’s being locked in the car are under investigation.  On May 28, WOOD-TV, an NBC affiliate in Grand Rapids, Mich., reported that a 2-year-old girl in Wyoming, Mich., died after being left in a car, where she had fallen asleep.  Janette Fennell, president and founder of KidsAndCars.org, counts seven hyperthermia fatalities in the United States so far this year, and in many states the weather is just starting to get warm.  While we all recognize the wrenching tragedy of forgotten children dying in hot automobiles, most of us are certain it could never happen on our watch. That’s a bad assumption.  About five years ago my wife and I were settling into the role of empty nesters. Forgetting what we were doing became part of our new, less stressful routine. Where are we going? Oh, yeah, we’re on our way to the grocery store.  Then, overnight, we became full-time caregivers for our marvelous 11-month-old granddaughter, Grace. No problem. Having raised four children with reasonable success, we knew the transportation drill. Infant car seat, reversed in the back, secured as directed by the manufacturer.  Soon thereafter, while out on a series of errands, I was daydreaming and completely forgot that Grace was sitting behind me. Luckily, my more aware spouse had accompanied me, so tragedy was averted. But my forgetfulness was a wakeup call that came through loud and clear. My daily routine had changed, and a return to the always-alert status of a full-time parent was required.  While child-safety advocates, Congress and automakers wrestle with potential solutions to the forgotten-child hyperthermia problem, the rest of us can do our part by being mindful that anyone is capable of a tragic mistake. And while regulation may eventually require a forgotten-child warning device, focusing on awareness and preventive measures is the best immediate action that can be taken to help reduce fatalities.  A number of organizations, including Kids and Cars, Safe Kids USA and the Auto Alliance have published recommendations for caregivers intended to help prevent hyperthermia deaths. The following list is a compilation from various sources:  • When transporting an infant or toddler, place a cellphone, purse or briefcase — something you need for the rest of the day — next to the child.  • Never leave a child alone in an automobile. Leaving a window partway open doesn’t prevent the vehicle’s interior from overheating.  • Call 911 immediately if you see a child unattended in a vehicle.  • Be extra-diligent if you change your routine for delivering a child to day care.  • Tell your day care provider to call you if your child doesn’t arrive on time.  • When transporting children, check the vehicle’s interior for any remaining passengers when you arrive at your final destination.  • Set a reminder on your cellphone or PDA regarding day care dropoff or other child transportation needs.  • If you spend your day at a computer, set a reminder that will query you about the whereabouts of your child before you start work.  • Finally, if you’re a parent or caregiver, remember that you’re on active duty around the clock. Letting your guard down for even a moment could lead to a lifetime of deep remorse.
There is no federal regulation requiring cars to warn drivers when a child is inadvertently left behind, but recent deaths suggest an urgent need for a device that provides such an alert.