Dear friends,

Many children every year are loosing their lives or are severely injured and left with lifelong impairments because of various types of nontraffic accidents. Parents, caregivers and anybody who is responsible for children should know that leaving babies or children unattended in or around a car at any time of the year, is putting their lives and future in peril.

Even for doing something they believe that it would take very little time, persons having under their responsibility children they should never let them alone in or around a car. Very easily they can be distracted by various events. At the same time many events may take place that lead to loss of life or serious injury of the left alone children.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides us with important information about various disasters that can happen when children are left alone around or in the car. Among the the more common for loss of life are hyperthermia (excessive heat), vehicle window asphyxia (lack of oxygen due to mechanical strangulation, power windows), struck by object, carbon monoxide poisoning from vehicle exhaust and backover. Among the causes for injuries the more common are injury by a closing door, falls, cuts by part of vehicle and others.

Hyperthermia is by far the most common cause of death in children 14 years old and younger who are left alone in the car. The second most common cause is strangulation by electrical windows.

Did you know that even with the windows rolled down two inches, it only takes 10 minutes for the inside of a vehicle to reach deadly temperatures on a hot summer day? This shows how dangerous it is to let a child alone in the car unattended. This is true for any time of the year but now in the summer the risk is much more.

Read more about this important issue of children fatalities and injuries in nontraffic accidents, especially about hyperthermia in the article Parents and caregivers be aware and always remember: Summer heat makes it especially dangerous to leave children in cars that you will find attached with our 78th Progressive Newsletter.

Having children under your care and supervision is a task of the highest importance. Parents and any other person who take this supreme responsibility should be alert about possible dangers and act accordingly.

Wishing you safe and happy summer holidays

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Albert Einstein