Have you ever left your children alone in a car? It can be really dangerous for them! If you are used to it, it is important to follow this topic through Dalili Medical to discover the risks that a child may be exposed to when left alone in a car. Have you ever faced this situation? You are driving your car back home after a busy morning, and your child is asleep in the back seat. When you get home, you think about opening the car windows and leaving the child there until he wakes up. If this has happened to you, you are not alone. Although leaving a child alone in a car may seem tempting, it is not safe. About 38 children die in the United States each year from heat stroke after being trapped in a car. Some children were left there by mistake, while others were left intentionally, and some used the car as a place to play.

How does suffocation occur in a car?

 

Suffocation can occur as a result of a problem with the exhaust system in the car, which leads to a buildup of carbon monoxide gas, even if there is ventilation in the place. In these cases, it is important to provide first aid, such as CPR.

Why should you avoid letting your baby sleep in a car seat?

 

When your baby is sitting, his or her heavy head may tilt forward, making it difficult for him or her to breathe and may lead to suffocation. Therefore, car seats - when the car is not moving - are not safe for naps or sleeping through the night during the first year of a baby's life.

Does car air conditioning cause suffocation?

 

Air conditioning gases in a closed car can expose a person to high levels of gases. Carbon monoxide is a very dangerous gas, as it is colorless and odorless. He explained that after 45 to 60 minutes, a person inside the car may begin to feel symptoms of suffocation, which usually begin with a headache and fatigue.

How long is it permissible for a child to stay in a car seat?

 

Many car seat manufacturers advise that a child should not be left in the seat for more than two hours in a 24-hour period. This is because keeping the child in a semi-upright position for a long time can strain the child's spine, which is still developing.

Can car seats cause sudden infant death syndrome?

 

It is advisable to avoid long-distance car trips with premature and young children. Research has shown that there is a link between car seats and sudden infant death syndrome, as young children may be at risk of breathing problems if they sleep in a sitting position for long periods.

Why do children sleep in the car?

 

Many parents notice that their children fall asleep quickly as soon as they get into the car and start moving, but they may wonder what is the reason behind this, is it the air or the vibrations? According to the British newspaper "Daily Mail", recent research has shown that car vibrations can make drivers feel sleepy within just 15 minutes, which can lead to accidents after half an hour.

What are the risks associated with leaving a child alone in the car?

 

- The child may feel afraid due to not understanding where he is, which may lead him to believe that his parents have left and will not return, leaving him in a state of anxiety and tension. To avoid these negative feelings that may affect his psyche, it is preferable not to leave him alone in the car.

- The child's body temperature can rise or fall. In the summer, when the car doors and windows are closed under the sun, the temperature rises significantly, which may lead to a dangerous rise in the child's body temperature, especially if the parents are away for a long time. In the winter, the mother may fear taking the child out in the cold, so she leaves him alone in the car, but this may lead to a significant drop in the car's temperature, causing the child to feel very cold and exposing him to diseases in the absence of heating.

- Playing with the transmission may push the child to move towards the driver's seat due to boredom, which makes him try to move the transmission or press the keyboard, which causes the car to move, and this may cause serious consequences.

**Suffocation** When the child is left in the car, especially in the summer when temperatures rise, he becomes more susceptible to suffocation due to the rapid rise in his body temperature and the insufficient amount of oxygen reaching his vital organs. Do not think that opening the windows can save your child's life, as sitting for a long time in high temperatures may lead to high blood pressure and affect his ability to breathe properly. In a study conducted by General Motors, the air temperature inside a car left in the sun at 35 degrees Celsius, despite having been pre-ventilated by air conditioning, was measured. After 20 minutes, the temperature inside the car reached more than 50 degrees Celsius, and after 40 minutes, it exceeded 65 degrees Celsius.

**Serious Accidents** When your child is three years old, he or she may be tempted to fiddle with the gear shifter or handbrake while alone in the car. If you leave the key inside the car, he or she may try to start the engine, which could cause the car to move without control, increasing the risk of it crashing or hitting something solid. These types of accidents are life-threatening to your child and increase the likelihood of serious injury.

**Kidnapping** If you leave your child alone in the car, he or she may be kidnapped either by stealing the car or breaking the glass. In this case, kidnapping the child becomes easier, especially if the car is unlocked.

What happens inside a car when it is left in the sun?

 

Cars heat up very quickly, and can increase by around 7 degrees Celsius in just 10 minutes.

In an experiment conducted by the ADAC automobile club, temperatures quickly rose to dangerous levels. The temperatures inside two cars of identical design, but with different window openings, reached life-threatening levels when the temperature wasOutside, it was 28 degrees Celsius with the windows closed, and the temperature rose as follows:

- After 10 minutes, it was 38 degrees Celsius.

- After 20 minutes, it was 45 degrees Celsius.

- After an hour in the sun, temperatures exceeded 50 degrees Celsius in both cars, both with the windows closed and those with them slightly open.

(This shows how the temperature inside the car increases rapidly over time, despite the stable outside temperature - degrees Fahrenheit)

**How ​​Leaving a Child Alone in a Closed Car in the Summer Can Kill You**

About 40 children die each year in the United States as a result of being left in cars during hot weather. The body reaches a critical point, and this can lead to death, when it cannot cool itself quickly enough. Children do not sweat effectively, which makes them susceptible to dehydration very quickly. So, being in an extremely hot environment, such as a car, poses a great risk to their health. Children are at greater risk because their body temperature rises 3-5 times faster than adults.

A child’s vital organs begin to fail when their temperature reaches 104°F (40°C), and a temperature of 107°F (41.6°C) can be fatal.

**Deaths from Leaving Children in Cars**Some parents may sometimes think that there is no harm in leaving a child alone in a car for a few minutes. But when you look at the numbers, we find that there are 37 deaths of children each year in the United States as a result of this dangerous habit. Interestingly, some parents may not realize that their child is still in the back seat, especially when they drop them off at school and think they have gotten out, only to discover later that they are asleep in the back seat.

**** Tips for Parents to Protect Their Children:

 

1. Avoid placing your child’s car seat directly behind the driver’s seat, as this helps the child to be easily seen and reduces the risk of forgetfulness, which can lead to tragic accidents.

2. Place essentials such as a wallet, cell phone, or ID card next to the child in the back seat. When you arrive at your destination, you will need to take these items, which will allow you to see your child as well.

3. Keep a stuffed animal, diaper bag, or other visible object on the front seat when your child is in the car with you. These visual cues help, especially if the child is asleep, as you can’t always rely on auditory cues.

4. Make sure to look in the back seat before closing the car doors.

5. Ask your child’s caregiver to call you if the child doesn’t show up at the scheduled time.

6. If your child is playing outside and disappears for a few minutes, immediately check the car, including the trunk, as children can get locked inside a parked car.

7. Most car deaths are accidental, so never leave your child alone in the car for any length of time.

**8. Don’t leave children alone** Avoid leaving children unattended in the car, even for a few minutes. These minutes can turn into a nightmare at any moment. The child may suffer from heat stroke or try to tamper with the car controls, which may cause the car to move. In addition, there are cases of kidnapping of children left alone inside cars. So, always make sure to take your children with you and do not leave them alone in the car.

**9. Make sure to fasten their seat belt** Before starting your trip, make sure to fasten the seat belt for the children. If you have already done so, check again. It is important to educate children about the importance of fastening the seat belt, and explain to them how to fasten and open it themselves.

10 **. Activate child door locks Your children may be able to open the car door while driving, which poses a great danger, as the child can fall out of the door. Therefore, every car is equipped with a child safety lock to avoid this danger. Make sure to activate the child locks, so that if children try to open the car door, it will only open from the outside.

**11. ** Power window lock

12 ** Children can open the car window by pressing the button, which may cause them to fall or try to stick their arms, heads or legs out of the window, which is very dangerous, as they may be exposed to another car or anything else. Therefore, you should always lock the power window buttons to ensure that children cannot open the car window on their own.

13 **. Keep the car locked

14 ** Always make sure to lock the car even when it is parked in the garage, to prevent theft of the car and to protect the safety of children. You cannot predict when a child may be able to access the car if it is left open, which may expose him to danger or tamper with the handbrake and start the car. Always keep the car keys out of the reach of children.

14 **. Avoid letting children eat in the car** Children should be prevented from eating snacks inside the car, as they may be at risk of choking due to rough roads or sudden stops. It is best to provide them with snacks before starting the trip. If your children start crying for food while in the car and it becomes difficult for you, pull over to a safe place and offer them something to eat.

.15 **Keep children out of sight in parking lots** Don’t leave children out of sight in parking lots, and always hold their hands. This is because many drivers may not be able to see well when they are parked, which can lead to them hitting something or someone. You don’t want your children alone in a parking lot and at risk of being hit.