NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — As hot summer weather returns to Kansas with a chance at triple digits later in the week, AAA is warning parents and caregivers of the even higher, dangerous temperatures inside vehicles and the deadly risk that can pose to children.
"We do have to talk about this," Steward said. "Every year, kids die in hot cars. We're looking at an average of about 38 kids every year across the country, die by being either left in a hot car or somehow getting in a car to play and then not being able to get out."
Heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths for children under the age of 14.
"It's really tragic," Steward said. "Kansas has lost 14 children since 1998, when NoHeatStroke.org began tracking this across the country."
Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle and if you see an unattended child in a vehicle, call 911.
"Kansas is top ten in terms of per capita pediatric vehicular heatstroke deaths," Steward said. "It's not a good thing. It's something that we like to remind parents and caregivers this time of year. It doesn't have to be 90 or 100 degrees to have a small child overcome by heat in a vehicle. Those vehicles can heat up very quickly and it can quickly become a dangerous situation."
53% of child hot car deaths in vehicles were caused by adults forgetting the children (Nearly half were not dropped off at childcare).
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