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Hot Car Deaths: Scientists Detail Why Parents Forget Their Children
On an average day, Kristie Reeves-Cavaliero didn’t need to set an alarm clock. Her hungry one-year-old daughter Sophia Rayne “Ray Ray” Cavaliero was more than enough to get her out of bed at 5 a.m. But on the day Ray Ray died, the infant slept through her usual early-morning feeding. “I glanced at the clock, and it was flashing ‘9:43,’ and the whole household was late,” Reeves-Cavaliero told NBC News. “It was totally chaotic.”
Hot car deaths: Why parents forget their children
On an average day, Kristie Reeves-Cavaliero didn’t need to set an alarm clock. Her hungry one-year-old daughter Sophia Rayne “Ray Ray” Cavaliero was more than enough to get her out of bed at 5 a.m. But on the day Ray Ray died, the infant slept through her usual early-morning feeding. “I glanced at the clock, and it was flashing ‘9:43,’ and the whole household was late,” Reeves-Cavaliero told NBC News. “It was totally chaotic.” While her husband Brett frantically got ready for work, Reeves-Cavaliero dressed Ray Ray. “We both gave her a hug and a kiss and told her we loved her, and she waved goodbye to me,” Reeves-Cavaliero said.
It could happen to you
Since 1994, 804 children have died from heat-related illnesses in cars in the United States, according to Kids and Cars, an advocacy center that conducts research on car-related dangers surrounding child. An average of 37 children die each year after being left in a vehicle.
Undoubtedly, there have been cases where parents intentionally left a child in a vehicle to die, or were somehow negligent. The sad truth is, however, that in the haste of their day, some have honestly forgotten the child was still strapped in the back seat.
How 4 technologies designed to prevent hot car deaths work
More than 800 children have died from heatstroke in hot cars since 1990, including 12 so far this year, according to Kids and Cars, a nonprofit focused on children’s safety. The organization is working with lawmakers to put a stop to these preventable deaths. Last week Representatives Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), Peter King (R-N.Y.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) reintroduced the Hot Cars Act to ensure that an alert system is standard in every car to prevent these tragedies. "If there are technologies that can prevent that kind of tragedy, we should just do it right away," Schakowsky told ABC News. There are several devices already on the market that are designed to prevent hot car deaths. "Good Morning America" tried out four different technologies: a car seat with built-in technology; an alert system already in some General Motors cars; a sensor system that can be put in a car seat; and a popular traffic app.
Backup Cameras Save Lives — the RAA Would Endanger Them
Cameron Gulbransen was accidentally killed at age two after being run over by an automobile without a backup camera.
