Never safe to leave children in vehicles

Re Child dies after being left in vehicle for four hours, Sept. 22 I read this article with concern and sadness. On days that seem almost mild, as well as the summer days of searing heat, the passenger compartment of a car can turn into an oven, with potentially deadly consequences.

According to the Canada Safety Council, in the confined space of a car, temperatures can climb so rapidly that they overwhelm a child’s ability to regulate his or her internal temperature. In a closed environment, the body, especially a small body, can go into shock quickly and circulation to vital organs can fail.

According to Dr. Oded Bar-Or, a pediatrician and director of the Children’s Exercise and Nutrition Centre at McMaster University in Hamilton, extreme heat affects infants and small children more quickly and dramatically than adults.

Because of their size, their core temperature can increase three to five times faster than that of an adult. Heatstroke, or hyperthermia, occurs when the body’s core temperature reaches 40.5 C.

Dr. Bar-Or’s study, funded by General Motors of Canada, found that within 20 minutes, the air temperature in a previously airconditioned small car exposed to the sun on a 35-C day exceeded 50 C. Within 40 minutes, the temperature soared to 65.5 C.

Leaving a window slightly open did little to prevent the temperature from rising to a level that is dangerous for children, vulnerable adults and pets.

Many parents and caregivers are simply not aware of this risk. The Canada Safety Council says never leave children unattended in vehicles and always keep cars locked while in garages or driveways to prevent children from playing in them.

More than 500 children have died in hot cars since 2008 in the U.S. No Canadian data is available, but based on the American numbers, the safety council estimates an average of four to six deaths occur each year. The safety council says it is never safe to leave a child alone in a vehicle, even for a few minutes. Emile Therien, public health and safety advocate, Ottawa