National Heatstroke Prevention Day, Friday, reminds parents what a danger hot weather can be for kids.
Eleven children across the county have already died this year after being left in hot cars. Over 600 children have died since 1998, according to the Department of Meteorology and Climate Science at San Jose University.
On a hot day, a car acts like a greenhouse, rising 20 degrees in just 10 minutes. The temperature can rise 10 degrees each 10 minutes after that . Children are much more susceptible and less tolerant of heat than adults. A child’s body temperature rises five times faster than an adult, and can prove fatal at a 107-degree body temperature.
“Heat stroke deaths have been recorded in 11 months of the year. We have to remain vigilant about this every single month,” Kate Carr President and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide told NBC at a Baltimore event to raise awareness about hot car deaths.
Southern California has had its share of hot car related deaths.
A Pomona girl died after being left in the family van over Father’s day weekend last June. The family had returned to the house after running errands, and went to take a nap; each thinking another had brought the girl inside.
The family eventually found the girl unconscious in the car, and attempted unsuccessfully to resuscitate her before police arrive. Kiara Li never regained consciousness and later died at the hospital. The case was ruled a tragic accident.
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A couple in El Cajon was arrested in August 2013 after leaving their 4-month-old baby in their car overnight. The mother was convicted of child endangerment last month.
The NHTSA also unveiled a new technical report Friday to help manufacturers innovate technology that would help prevent more deaths.
