Hawaiʻi Police Department
Traffic Services
Torey Keltner
Program Manager
Phone: (808) 961-2305
Media Release (Correction)
July 31, 2019, is National Heatstroke Awareness Day. Preventing heatstroke of children in vehicles has been a focus of the Hawai’i Police Department. This is a tragedy that can be prevented with a little preparation. We all lead very busy lives at work and home. By following a few tips, we can make sure that our keiki are safe, and we can prevent childhood fatalities due to heatstroke.
Remember:
- Never leave a child alone in a parked car, even with the windows rolled down or the air conditioning on. A child’s body temperature can rise three to five times faster than an adult’s. A core body temperature of 107 degrees is lethal.
- Always look in both the front and back of the vehicle before locking the door and walking away.
- Heatstroke can occur in temperatures as low as 57 degrees. On an 80-degree day, temperatures inside a vehicle can reach deadly levels in just 10 minutes.
- Never let children play in an unattended vehicle. Teach them a vehicle is not a play area.
- Always lock your vehicle doors and trunk, and keep the keys out of a child’s reach. If a child is missing, quickly check all vehicles, including the trunk.
Is dropping off a child not part of your normal routine? Come up with some ways to remind yourself that the child is in the car.
- Place a briefcase, purse, or cell phone next to the child’s car seat so that you’ll always check the back seat before leaving the car.
- Call your spouse or another caregiver to confirm you’ve dropped your child off.
- Have your childcare provider call you if your child doesn’t arrive.
- Write a note and place it on the dashboard of your car, or set a reminder on your cell phone or calendar.
If you see a child alone in a vehicle:
- Always make sure the child is okay and responsive. If not, call 911 immediately.
- If the child appears to be okay, attempt to locate the parents or have the facility’s security or management page, the car owner over the PA system.
- If the child is not responsive and appears to be in distress, attempt to get into the car to assist the child—even if that means breaking a window—many states have “Good Samaritan” laws that protect people from lawsuits for getting involved to help a person in an emergency.
Remember: kids and hot cars are a deadly combination. Don’t take the chance. Look Before You Lock.