Donna Rikley-Lein

Baldwin People Editor

Kids and cars. Not a good combination. Each year, hundreds of children die in car accidents.

But that same vehicle, the one you use to take the kids on errands, can be just as deadly in the driveway or parking lot.

According to Janette E. Fennell, the founder of the advocacy group, “Kids and Cars,” on average, 50 kids every week are hurt or killed each week by cars backing over them.

“What generally happens, said Fennel is Mom, Dad and an 18-month-old are having dinner. Dinner is over and while Mom is cleaning up the kitchen, Dad decides to go for milk.”

Fennell then described a situation where the youngster, excited that Dad is leaving the home, slips out the door while Mom is distracted and runs to the car, expecting to go on the errand. The father is not aware the youngster is out there. The mother does not know the baby went out the door. It's probably the first time the child had been able to open the door.

“The child runs behind the car,” said Fennell. “We call it the 'bye-bye syndrome.'” She added that the majority of the incidents involve family members.

The parents won't know until there is a “thump.” The result can range from a minor injury to a tragedy.

“Forty-eight kids go to the emergency room,” said Fennell, adding that two youngsters die.

And while people may think they have their mirrors perfectly adjusted to see what's behind them, Fennell says that some vehicles have a 57-foot “blind spot,” where drivers can't see a child darting into their path, even with perfectly adjusted mirrors.

The trick, Fennell says is to walk around the car, looking for obstacles and to make sure there are no unsupervised youngsters around. She adds that there are devices available for “less than $100” that will help prevent a back over incident. But, the best prevention comes from being vigilant.

“If there are youngsters around, make sure an adult is supervising them,” said Fennell.

Kids and Cars is also tracking incidents where a child is left in a car. Often distracted parents forget that there is a youngster sleeping in a car seat behind them. They are not bad parents. They are just distracted, says Fennell. She notes that parents from all walks of life have been involved

While the child is in the seat, the car starts heating up. According to The National Highway Safety Administration Web site, “Even cool temperatures in the 60s can cause the temperature to rise well above 110° Fahrenheit inside your car. The inside temperature can rise almost 20 degrees within the first 10 minutes.”

Part of the problem is a change in the way we transport children in cars. This reporter can remember when her first child was born, and the car seat was placed in the front seat next to her. However, airbags went into use and injured and killed children in the front seat. Kids moved to the back seat, a place that the NHSTA and Fennel say is the safest for children. However, a rear-facing car seat does not allow a parent or caregiver to see the child, making it easy to forget a sleeping infant.

Fennel adds that a parent who is “out of routine” is the one most likely to forget there is a sleeping child in the back.

“It really does not take much,” she said, “Just a detour or a change in routine will do it. You forget the child is back there.”

According to a Kids and Cars press release, “From 1995 through August 18th of this year, at least five hundred thirty seven (537) children died from heat stroke in vehicles that became too hot for them to survive.”

Unfortunately, small children, the ones who can't free themselves from a car seat, are also the most vulnerable to heat exhaustion(heatstroke). According to the NHTSA, “When left in a hot vehicle, a young child's body temperature may increase three to five times as fast an adult. High body temperatures can cause permanent injury or even death.”

But there are habits that will help even the most distracted parent. Both Fennell and the NHTSA recommend the habit of looking at the car seat each and every time you get out of the car.

Fennell adds, “Get in the habit of placing a stuffed toy in the seat when the kid is out of it. When you put the child in the car seat, toss the toy to the front seat. Seeing the toy in the front will become a cue that a child is in back.”

Fennel added that getting in the habit of placing a purse, wallet or briefcase on the floor in front of the car sear will also force one to open the door and see the car seat.

“Even the best parent forgets,” Fennell said. “This will help you not to forget.”

for more information, the Kids and Cars Web site is at www.kidsandcars.org. The NHTSA Web site can be found at www.nhtsa.gov/.