On average, 38 children under the age of 15 die each year from heatstroke after being left in a vehicle, according to Injury Facts.
Despite increased media attention and campaigns to remind people to always check the backseat of their car, the fatalities are increasing, with a record number of 52 children dying last year after being left in a hot vehicle.
Forgot to drop her baby off
There are a multitude of reasons why this happens: a parent absentmindedly leaves their baby on the backseat, or a toddler could crawl into the family’s vehicle without anyone knowing.
On a hot day last year in Indiana a mother dropped one child off at daycare and then forgot to drop her baby off and instead headed straight to work, leaving him on the backseat of her car.
The 3-month-old baby boy was pronounced dead, leaving a family distraught and wondering how it could have happened.
Now the O’Fallon Missouri Police Department posted on Facebook saying it would be giving away free rearview mirror tags to the public.
“In the continuing effort to provide the best level of service possible to our residents, the OPD is offering these rearview mirror reminders to ensure your most prized possession is safe,” the post read.
‘Baby in the back!’
The yellow tags, which are intended for your rearview mirror, come with two messages: “Where’s baby? Look before you lock!” and “Baby in the back! Heat-related deaths are preventable.”
Hundreds of people have commented praising the idea, with one Facebook user writing, “What a wonderful idea and making it available to the public is awesome.”
These notices should be given out to parents across the U.S. They are so simple and yet so effective. Please share with others and spread the word.