Child dies in El Centro after being left in vehicle amid heat wave
EL CENTRO, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) -- A child died in El Centro on Monday evening after being left inside a car, according to a press release from the organization, Kids and Car Safety.
According to AccuWeather, the temperatures in El Centro reached a high of 114 degrees and a low of 85 degrees on the day of the incident.
The child's age and gender have not been disclosed, nor the amount of time the child was left in the vehicle, and the investigation is ongoing, according to the press release.
The tragic incident occurred amid a dangerous heat wave in Southern California, as an extreme heat warning has been issued through regions of the county from Wednesday through Thursday this week.
It marks the fourth time in California this year that a child has died from being left in a hot vehicle, and at least the 22nd to occur nationwide, according to the press release.
According to authorities, approximately 88 percent of children who die in hot car incidents are 3 years old or younger, and they were often left unattended by a responsible parent or caregiver.
Here are safety tips on how to prevent hot car deaths from occurring for parents and caregivers:
- Make sure a child is never left alone in a vehicle
- Place the child’s belongings, such as a diaper bag, in the front passenger seat as a visual cue that the child is there
- Open the back door every time you park, ensuring no one is left behind
- Ask your childcare provider to contact you immediately if your child hasn’t arrived as scheduled
- Clearly announce and confirm who is getting each child out of the vehicle, so miscommunication does not occur
Education is key in preventing hot vehicle tragedies, while life-saving technology such as rear seat occupant detection is being advocated for installation in new vehicles.
