Risks Inside The Vehicle
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Hyperthermia (Heatstroke)
Never leave a child alone in a parked vehicle, even
with the windows open. A vehicle's interior can
reach deadly temperatures within 10 minutes, even with
the windows cracked. Children's bodies overheat 3
to 5 times faster than an adult's because they absorb
more heat and sweat less. Children can suffer
heatstroke within 10 minutes, causing high fever,
seizures and damage to the brain and other vital
organs. (Source: The American Academy of Pediatrics
(AAP)).
Do not assume it is safer to leave a child alone
if the vehicle is running with the air conditioner
on. A child could slip the vehicle into drive, get
caught in a power window, be abducted or be
inadvertently taken by a car thief.
| Vehicle
temperatures rise quickly, even with the
windows cracked
|
| In Just: |
Temperatures Rise: |
| 10
minutes |
19°F |
| 20
minutes |
29°F |
| 30
minutes |
34°F |
| 60
minutes |
43°F |
| 1-2 hours
|
45-50°F |
From a San Francisco State University study. Temperature increases
may vary based on vehicle interior color.
|
Vehicle Rollaway Most rollaway accidents
begin when an unattended child releases the emergency brake or shifts the vehicle from park into gear. Once the vehicle is in motion, the child may become frightened and jump out of the vehicle, only to be injured or run over. A child can also be hurt
inside a vehicle if it collides with another object.
Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI)
technology forces a driver to depress the foot
brake when shifting out of park. It can prevent
children from accidentally putting a vehicle in
gear. Visit www.safercar.gov
for a list of BTSI-equipped vehicles.
Power Window Accidents
Each year, children are injured or killed in
accidents involving power windows. According to
the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety
(IIHS), vehicle windows may bruise, dislocate,
lacerate, fracture or crush body parts that
become trapped in the windows. The most severe
incidents occur when parents leave children
unattended.
A child or adult may unintentionally lean,
kneel or stand on the power window switch
causing the window to close while someone's
head, hand, or arm is in the window.
| TYPES OF POWER WINDOW SWITCHES
|
| Rocker |
Pivots on a
center hinge that allows you to press down
on one side or the other to open
and close a window. |
| Toggle |
Moves back
and forth to open and close a vehicle
window. |
| Lever |
Requires you to press down to open the window, but you must actively lift the switch
to close the window.
|
If your vehicle's power windows feature rocker or
toggle switches, consider replacing them with
lever switches. Beginning in September, 2010, all
new vehicles will be required to have this
"pull-to-close" technology.
Some vehicles are equipped with automatic-reverse
power windows. These windows function like
elevator doors or garage doors, automatically
opening when sensors detect an obstruction. Check
your vehicle owner's manual to determine whether
your vehicle features this technology.
Seat Belt Entanglement
Children can become entangled in vehicle seat
belts. If a seat belt features a locking
mechanism, it may retract and strangle the child.
Children also may become wrapped in a seat belt
when lying down or sleeping on the vehicle seat.
Trunk Entrapment
Children can become trapped in the trunk and suffer heat stroke or suffocate.
They can access the trunk by using the trunk
release button, or by climbing through a fold-down
seat or other pass-through opening in the back
seat of a vehicle. If your child is missing,
immediately check your vehicle trunk. Every second
counts.
All vehicles manufactured after September 2001 are
equipped with a glow-in-the-dark release handle
inside the trunk compartment. If you own an older
vehicle, ask your mechanic or a nearby dealership
to retrofit it with an emergency trunk release.
Teach your children how to locate and use the
emergency trunk release.
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Updated Thursday, July 01, 2010
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| © The USAA Educational Foundation, 2000 -
All rights reserved.
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