SACRAMENTO — As the temperature continues to rise, so does the risk of vehicular hyperthermia (heat stroke), especially for a child left inside a hot vehicle.
To prevent a child”s death, “Kaitlyn”s Law” was enacted in California in 2002 following the heat-related death of 6-month-old Kaitlyn Marie Russell, who was left unattended in a parked vehicle on a hot summer day.
“On a typical sunny day, the temperature inside a vehicle can reach a potentially deadly level within minutes,” California Highway Patrol (CHP) Commissioner Joe Farrow said. “There is no excuse for leaving a child alone in a vehicle, not even for a few minutes.”
California law prohibits anyone from leaving a child 6 years old or younger unattended in a motor vehicle without the supervision of someone who is 12 years or older when there are conditions that present a significant risk to the child”s health or safety or when the vehicle”s engine is running and/or the vehicle”s key is in the ignition.
While the law prohibits it, some parents or caregivers can overlook a sleeping baby in a vehicle, which can have tragic consequences, according to the CHP. For this reason, the CHP encourages parents or caregivers to develop a plan or a habit, which serves as a reminder of where a child is at all times.
“A few simple precautions can go a long way toward keeping a child safe,” Farrow said. “No matter what the weather is like, or length of time you need to be away from the vehicle, leaving a child unattended in a vehicle is very risky and can result in tragedy.”
The CHP encouraged the public to take an active role in safeguarding children who may be left unattended in a vehicle by dialing 9-1-1 immediately and following the instructions that emergency personnel provide.
