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Keeping Children and Pets Safe As summer vacations wind down, remember that temperatures still continue to climb, and temperatures inside a car far exceed those outside. Children and pets are especially vulnerable to these extremes. According to Safe Kids USA, more than 49 children died while alone in a vehicle in 2010. To ensure that a child is safe and is never forgotten in a vehicle, Safe Kids USA provides the following tips.
- Never leave a child or pet unattended in a vehicle, even with windows open.
- If you are responsible for taking a child to day care or a sitter’s house before work, place a cell phone, purse, briefcase or other important item on the floor in front of a child in the backseat. This triggers adults to see children when they reach for their belongings to prevent children from being forgotten in a hot car.
- Set a reminder on your phone or calendar to be sure that your children are dropped off at day care before arriving at work.
- Ask your sitter or day care to call you if your child is a few minutes late arriving. Be especially careful when you have altered your routine.
- Teach your children not to play in any vehicle.
- Lock all vehicle doors and the trunk after everyone has exited the vehicle. Keep keys out of children’s reach.
- If your child is missing, check vehicles and trunks first.
- Print these tips and put them on your refrigerator as a constant reminder.
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