Safe Kids Johnston County Urges Community To Protect Children From Hot Car Deaths

BENSON — Safe Kids Johnston County is urging community members to prioritize child safety this summer as they raise awareness about the dangers of vehicular heatstroke. The coalition hosted a “hot car” demonstration at a safety event in Benson earlier this month, in conjunction with the North Carolina Department of Insurance, the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, and the Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP). With a digital thermometer displaying temperatures of both outside and inside the display vehicle, attendees witnessed the car’s internal temperature reach a sweltering 113 degrees.

“The temperature inside a car can increase by 19 degrees in just 10 minutes,” warned Jennifer Williams, Coordinator for Safe Kids Johnston County. “Young children are particularly vulnerable as their bodies heat up three times faster than adults, and cracking a window does little to alleviate the heat. We urge everyone to join us in preventing this tragic, but avoidable, situation by never leaving children, pets, or the elderly unattended in vehicles.”

The event included a press conference with the North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey, who emphasized the importance of heightened vigilance and community awareness.

“Leaving a child or pet unattended, even for a few minutes, can be more dangerous than people realize,” Commissioner Causey explained. “These deaths are largely preventable, and we must take every possible precaution to avoid such unnecessary tragedies.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an average of 37 children die in the U.S. each year after being left alone in hot vehicles. Safe Kids Johnston County reminds us that we can cut down the number of deaths and near misses by remembering to ACT.

A: Avoid heatstroke-related injury and death by never leaving a child alone in a car, not even for a minute. Also, be sure to keep your car locked when you’re not inside, so children don’t get in on their own.

C: Create reminders. When your child is riding in the back seat, keep a stuffed animal next to you as a visual reminder, or store your phone, briefcase, or purse in the second row.

T: Take action. If you see a child alone in a car, call 911. Emergency personnel want you to call. They are trained to respond to these situations. One call could save a life.

Safe Kids will host its next “hot car” demonstration during a Child Wellness & Resource Event, taking place at the Partnership for Children office on Saturday, July 19th, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Safe Kids Johnston County is a coalition of local agencies and individuals dedicated to protecting the children of our community from preventable injuries.