DREW SEELMAN, DNP, RN, CEN, is the Chief Nursing Officer at Methodist Hospital | Atascosa. He holds a Doctorate of Nursing Practice in Executive Nursing Leadership, a Master of Science in Nursing Leadership and Innovation and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. He has nearly 20 years of experience, spanning nursing leadership, emergency services, trauma, orthopedics and more. Dedicated to the nursing profession and patient safety, Drew is also a member of the American Organization of Nurse Leaders, the South-Central Texas Organization of Nurse Leaders and the Emergency Nurses Association.
947 and counting. This is the number of children that have died in a hot car since 1998, according to noheatstroke.org. The most devastating news is that these deaths could have been prevented.
These unintentional deaths are wreaking havoc in our country and continue to occur every summer. Situations such as parents becoming distracted, breaking normal routines, or deciding it’s not that hot outside and leaving a child in a car that is not running easily occur and could lead to fatal outcomes. At this time of year, we are happy for an 80-degree day outside, but inside a locked car, even 80 degrees can be deadly.
According to noheatstroke.org, on an 80-degree day, the temperature inside of a car that isn’t running can reach 106 degrees within 15 minutes, with the heat exponentially increasing. Even on a 70-degree day, the temperature can reach 104 degrees within 30 minutes. This stands as a reminder to never leave a child in a vehicle unattended, even for a moment; the consequences can be deadly.
Additionally, noheatstroke.org advises on other safety recommendations which include not allowing children to play in the car and teaching children to honk the horn to gain someone’s attention if locked in the car. Parents can place a stuffed animal in the front seat of the car as a reminder of when the child is in the car with them. The website advises making a habit of always checking the back seats before getting out of the vehicle, as an extra precaution.
If you come upon a child locked in a car, please call 911 immediately and get assistance from the police. At that moment, the child’s safety is paramount, and confronting the parent or responsible party is not our place, and should be left to the police.
Methodist Hospital | Atascosa takes your family’s health seriously and never wants this to happen to anyone. As we head into the hottest time of the year, remember that life is precious, and at any moment, we can become distracted and devastation could follow. We hope you take the extra moment to look again, just in case!
