It might seem strange that anyone would need reminding about the dangers of leaving children alone in cars, but as statistics in the US sadly show, it is necessary.
One of the most effective reminders we have probably seen recently is a social experiment called Hot Car Challenge, conducted by Kars4Kids.
The nonprofit organisation, which has a free app that reminds drivers they have a baby in the backseat, offered $100 to any adult who could last ten minutes inside a parked vehicle, so they could find out exactly what it’s like being stuck in a sweltering car on a hot day.
The volunteers could get out before the ten minutes by pushing a button if the heat got too much. Every single one of them pushed the button.
After leaving the car without the money, one man said, “That was one of the worst things I’ve ever gone through in my life.”
Whilst another volunteer said afterwards, “I could press the button, they couldn’t press the button. They’d just be sitting there desperate. I can only imagine how a child or a baby would feel in there, just waiting for someone to come and get them.”
The video states that each week, at least one child dies from heatstroke after being left in the car alone. Hopefully reminders like this will help lower that number.
