Sep 18, 2014 in News Negligent Supervision

Negligent Supervision: The danger of leaving a child in a hot vehicle

[caption id="attachment_6401" align="alignleft" width="300"] (Photo credit: Raymond Shobe/Flickr)[/caption] All parents juggle many tasks simultaneously, whether it's handling an issue at work or figuring out a family matter. With so much going on, sometimes it's easy to forget dropping off your child or that your child is even with you. During the summer when it's hot outside, unfortunately this mistake can be fatal. Children are more susceptible to heat and dehydration compared to adults since their smaller body mass leads them to lose water faster, according to the Windsor Star. While there is no data for the number of hot car fatalities in Canada, in the United States, there's an average of 38 hyperthermia deaths each year, according to the Canada Safety Council. Any case of a child dying in a hot vehicle garners a lot of media attention. Most recently, an Atlanta father was indicted on eight charges related to the death of his 22-month-old son who died after being left in a hot vehicle. If he's convicted of the most serious charge, he could face the death penalty, according to CNN's legal analyst. In August, a 41-year-old mother visiting Alberta from the US was charged with child abandonment and neglect when she left a child in a hot minivan outside the local IGA. Emergency crews were called and they rushed the child to the hospital. The mother was taken into custody and will appear in court in October. Last June, a Milton, Ont., one-month-old toddler died after being left in a hot sedan parked outside the family's home. The temperature outside reached 28 C, but inside the vehicle it climbed to as high as 50 C, according to the National Post. The grandmother was charged with criminal negligence causing death and failing to provide the necessities of life. To prevent this from happening, parents should never leave their child unattended in the vehicle, even if they're running a short errand. There are drive-thru options for banking, food or coffee or even if you're filling up gas, you can pay at the pump. Parents should also make it a habit to always check the back seat before leaving the vehicle. One way to always remember if your child is in the car with you is by keeping a stuffed animal in the child's car seat when its vacant. When you need to put your child in the seat, move the stuffed animal to the front seat so you'll remember. A New Mexico teen hopes to help prevent these types of death with her Hot Seat device that can notify parents if they walk ten metres away from the child through a keychain fob, the parent's smartphone or the car itself. Currently, the device is raising money through crowdfunding website Indiegogo in hopes of developing a prototype. Wrongful deaths and the personal damages caused by them can be very emotional times for family members and they're handled by personal injury lawyers. At Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers, we have over 40 years of experience in handling all types of accidents. We know the impacts they have on your life and the life of your family members and we know how to help you. Call us at 416-920-4242. Set up a free consultation and come talk with us.