CHILDREN, AUTOMOBILES AND HEAT STROKE

A recently published article in the journal Pediatrics reminds us all that heat stress from enclosed vehicles can cause significant temperature rise and put infants & children at risk for hyperthermia.

The effects of high internal automobile temperatures takes young lives every year in the U.S. In 2016, the number of deaths from heat stroke rose in the pediatric population to 39. Previous averages per year have been running at 29 deaths per year.

Temperatures in enclosed automobiles can range from 134 to 154 degrees, and do so in a hurry. On average, temperatures tend to increase 3.2 degrees per minute and this is barely affected by having the window open a crack. These results are based on ambient temperatures outside of only 86 degrees. Southern California can easily exceed those numbers, and often does.

This is just a reminder to parents and care providers that small passengers are subject to heat stroke at a greater rate than adults, due to low body mass. It is imperative that we pay close attention to this issue and remind all others that might transport your infants and children in automobiles that passenger safety during the warmer months is everyone’s job.