Incidents like this happen on average 50 times a year in the U.S. alone
A family in Virgina, USA is mourning the tragic loss of their two-year-old boy Bairon Alexander Castillo, this week. The toddler, affectionately known as Alex was struck by his father’s jeep as he backed out of the driveway of their family home.
On a GoFundMe page set up by the boy’s aunt, she says: “Our hearts are heavy to announce the tragic passing of little Bairon. A parent should never have to go through the pain my cousin/sister and her husband are going through losing their toddler in a very tragic way.”
Speaking to a local TV station, the boys father explains that he had placed the child in the house and told him to stay inside before starting the car: “He said, ‘OK, Daddy.’ But I didn’t realise when he came out again. When the truck accident happened it was too late.”
Absolutely heartbreaking.
Unfortunately, incidents like this are all too common according to the non-profit organisation Kids and Cars, that estimates at least 50 children are backed over by a vehicle every week in the States alone.
They advise the following safety measures to ensure accidents like this don’t happen to our children:
- Use rearview cameras and sensors on your vehicle.
- Keep home doors locked and install locks at the top of doors in your home so children cannot get outside on their own.
- Create habits to ensure children are directly supervised every time someone is arriving or leaving the home.
- Walk completely around your vehicle scanning the area for children and pets prior to moving a vehicle.
- Do not allow children to play in driveways, cul‐de‐sacs or parking lots unsupervised.
- Roll down the driver’s side window when backing so you can hear if someone is warning you to stop.
- Trim landscaping around the driveway to ensure drivers can see the pavement, street and pedestrians clearly when backing out of their driveway.
- Be especially careful about keeping children safe in and around cars during busy times, schedule changes and periods of crisis or holidays.
