We're all busy, right? Sometimes we have to run to the store to buy something, or get some money from the ATM , and we leave the little one in the car alone, thinking that we'll come back with a wink. "What could happen?" We may think. But did you know that even that small minute can pave the way for a great tragedy that can turn our whole life upside down? Today we're talking about a topic that we don't even want to think about, but we all need to be aware of.
This story is about a two-year-old boy named Harrison. His favorite thing to do is watch the boats go by on the river. One day, while he was watching with his mother, a van parked in a nearby ditch suddenly rolled down and hit Harrison and his mother. The van had been pushed into gear by two other children who were playing inside the van. No matter how hard Harrison's mother tried, she had to watch her little boy's life disappear before her eyes. After that incident, she dedicated her whole life to educating parents so that no other child would ever have to go through something like this.
Cars and small children - a dangerous combination!
A car crash is not the only danger a child can face. A child can be kidnapped when left alone in a vehicle. Also, with the climate of our country, the temperature inside a closed car rises very quickly. This can cause severe dehydration and heat exhaustion in the child, which can even be life-threatening. In some cold countries, children can also be harmed by hypothermia. Not only that, there is a possibility that small items inside the car, such as money and coins, can get stuck in their mouths.
"People don't leave their handbags or phones in the car. But they leave their children behind. If they lose their handbags or phones, they can get them back. But you can't get a child back, right?"
This is the question Harrison's mother asks. How much do we really think about this? Surveys show that only 10% of parents think it's okay to leave a young child alone in a car. Only 50% of parents can say with 100% confidence that the car is locked at home. These are the things that we don't think about, which contribute to accidents.
The car is not a playground.
Young children are very curious. They love to imitate what their parents do. So an unlocked car is a place for them to play. They climb into the front seat, try to turn the steering wheel and grab the gear lever like their parents. If the keys are left in the car, or if the keys are in a place where the child can reach them, the child is likely to start the car.
This accident doesn't just happen on the road. Most of the time, these accidents happen in front of our own homes, in the driveway. Imagine, when we're about to close the gate, or while we're carrying something into the house, the child passes us and hides behind the car. When we reverse the car, we don't even see the child. Studies have found that the majority of accidents involving children under the age of 5 happen in driveways. So it's very important for us to understand that a car is not a toy, it's a ton of heavy, dangerous machinery.
What we can do to protect children
Awareness and prevention are the best ways to reduce these tragedies. No matter how many rules there are, our responsibility as parents is the most important thing. Here are some things we should all be aware of.
| Warning / What to do | Why is that? / More details |
|---|---|
| Don't leave your children alone even for a minute. | No matter how quickly you travel, take your child with you. There's still time for an unimaginable accident to happen. |
| Do not leave car keys within reach of children. | Keys are a toy for children. They can use them to start the car, open and close the doors. Always keep the keys in a safe place. |
| Always lock the car doors and trunk. | Keep your car locked, even if it's parked in the garage or in front of your house. Children can sneak in and play, and the doors can lock and they can get trapped inside. |
| Look at the car through the eyes of a child | Crawl inside your car and take a look. What are the places where a child could be in danger? Does the windshield close when you push the power window switch up? If so, the child's neck could be strangled. |
| Teach your child about car accidents. | Simply explain to your child, "A car is not a toy. It can cause accidents." Teach them that it only goes from one place to another. |
| Take special care of the trunk. | Children may find the trunk a good place to hide while playing. If they get stuck inside, it can be life-threatening. If there is a way to open the trunk from the inside, teach your child about it and get them used to it. |
If you do have an accident, don't just treat it as a minor scratch. Take yourself to the nearest hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) immediately. Even a minor accident can cause internal injuries, so it's always safest to get checked out by a doctor .
Take-Home Message
- Never leave your young child alone in a car for any reason, even for a minute.
- Even at home, always lock the doors and trunk when you're not using your vehicle. Keep keys out of reach of children.
- A car is not a toy, so lovingly explain to children the dangers it can cause.
- Think twice about children in your driveway and parking lots. Look around carefully before starting your vehicle.
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