Hyperthermia Deaths of Children in Vehicles June 29, 2011 Complete and mail back the evaluation form at the end in order to get CEU credits. Webinar brought to you by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems’ EMSC Program, with funding by the Maryland State Highway Office.

Hyperthermia Deaths of Children in Vehicles Jan Null, CCM San Francisco State University 2

Recent Headlines  Girl, 2, dies in daycare van  Toddlers died of hyperthermia  Police: Baby Left in Car Died from Overheating  New Braunfels infant dies in hot car  Child dies after being left in pickup  New Orleans police investigating death of small boy  …. and 9 more similar headlines this year 3

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2010 Headlines  Twins die trapped inside a hot vehicle  Funeral today for girl found dead in hot van  Baby left in truck all day dies  Toddler dies after being left in hot car  Baby daughter dies after dad forgets her inside his car  Son dies after 9 hours in car  …. And 43 more similar headlines in 2010 …. 5

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How Many?

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<1 Airbag death/yr 38 Hyperthermia/yr Airbag Deaths/yr 11 Hyperthermia/yr 9

What Circumstances? of the “forgotten” children (44%) were to have been dropped off childcare/preschool. 10

How Old?  Average Age = 21 months  Youngest = 1 month (2 cases)  Oldest = 13 years 11

When? 12

Current Law More states have laws against leaving pets in vehicles 13

Hyperthermia  Child’s less capable of cooling their bodies  Body temperature rises 3 to 5 times faster  Heat Stroke  Body ≥ 104 ° F  System shuts down  Symptoms  Stops perspiring, faintness, cramps, rapid pulse, and possible delirium or coma  Death at 107 ° F 14

Hyperthermia … or severe brain damage: Before: "He was talking, walking, running and acting up,” his mother said. "He was potty trained. He was beginning to talk to us in sentences... ” And now: "Demarion can't talk anymore,” she said. "He moans. He doesn't walk. He doesn't crawl. He's no longer potty trained. He has to be fed through a tube … He can’t give us a hug anymore.” 15

My Involvement?  Almost 10 Years  Almost 10 Years  July 24, 2001, San Jose California  Kyle Patrick Gilbert (5 mo)  Left by 19-year-old father  Media asked “How hot did it get in the car?”  Only study was by LA State Med. Soc. for only a single 93° day 16

How Hot? How Fast?  Summer 2002 observational study  16 study days  Outside air temperatures from 72 ° - 96° F  On two days, measurements were also made with the windows “cracked” 1.5 inches 17

How Cars Get Hot Incoming Shortwave Solar Radiation Warms Interior Objects Air and Windows are Transparent to Sunlight Outgoing Longwave Radiation Heats the Air 18

How Hot? How Fast? 19

How Hot? How Fast? 20

An 80° Day 21

An 80° Day 22

An 80° Day 23

An 80° Day 24

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An 80° Day 27

Future Efforts Temperatures Temperatures Extended time periods Extended time periods Different vehicle types Different vehicle types Incident Statistics Incident Statistics Find unknown cases Find unknown cases Lexis-Nexis Lexis-Nexis Networking Networking Outreach Outreach SafeKids SafeKids National Weather Service National Weather Service Harrison’s Hope Harrison’s Hope 28

Safety Recommendations Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle. Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle. Not even for a minute! Not even for a minute! If you see a child unattended in a hot vehicle If you see a child unattended in a hot vehicle Call Call Be sure that all occupants leave the vehicle when Be sure that all occupants leave the vehicle when unloading. Don't overlook sleeping babies. unloading. Don't overlook sleeping babies. Have a plan that your childcare provider will call you if Have a plan that your childcare provider will call you if Your child does not show up for school. Your child does not show up for school. 29

Safety Recommendations Teach your children that vehicles are never to be used as a play area. Teach your children that vehicles are never to be used as a play area. Keep keys and remote entry devices out of reach. Keep keys and remote entry devices out of reach. If a child is missing If a child is missing Check the pool first Check the pool first Check the car, including the trunk Check the car, including the trunk 30

SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS SafeKids National Weather Service Harrison’s Hope 31

SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS 32

Contact Information Jan Null, CCM  San Francisco State University    ggweather.com/heat/ 33

Thank you for participating today! Final Instructions: Evaluation form is available on our website: alternatively, we can it to call participants. Return your completed evaluation along with the contact info page to receive your CEU certificate.