CPS goal to prevent hot car deaths

06:30 PM CDT on Friday, June 24, 2005

By Carolyn Campbell / 11 News

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Another child, this time from Maypearl southwest of Dallas, died after she was forgotten in the back of a truck on Thursday. Heartbreaking cases like this reinforce a renewed campaign by Children's Protective Services to remind caretakers to take precautions.

KHOU-TV

Leaving your child in a car, even with the windows open, is a recipe for disaster.

It happens all too often in Houston -- a child is left in a car. And even though the windows were rolled down, it is not safe, nor legal.

The law states that a child under the age of 7 cannot be left in car unsupervised.

In 2003, Texas led the nation with 10 children dying after being left in hot cars. So for the second summer, Children's Protective Services is promoting its "Look before you leave" campaign to parents and caregivers.

"We just want to remind people to look before you leave," says Gwen Carter of Harris County CPS.

Dr. Kim Cheung of U.T. Houston showed how quickly the temperature rises by placing a thermometer in an SUV. It rises from about 93 degrees to more than 102 in minutes.

"You see how fast the temperature goes up in two minutes," says Dr. Cheung, "and as I said earlier, the heat goes up really the fastest within the first five minutes."

Many parents think if they crack a window, the kids will be OK, but as shown in a test with a vehicle with open windows, the thermometer peaked at more than 121 degrees.

Plus, children are more at risk than adults. "Compared to adults children can get overheated and dehydrated a lot faster," says Dr. Cheung.

CPS is hoping a word of warning will help prevent any more tragedies this summer.