GM and Safe Kids USA Release Summer Child Safety Advice

wEvery once in a while, the automotive producers get involved in a social or safety campaign, with the most frequent aim (for the company) being to show the commitment for helping the society. The latest initiative of this kind comes from General Motors, which has teamed up with the Safe Kids USA association to educate parents on child safety.

To be more specific, the two partners are raising awareness on the threats posed by high temperature created in a vehicle that is left out in the sun with one or more children inside.

According to GM, every year, more than 30 children in the U.S. die due to the fact that they are left alone in a hot car. In just 10 minutes a vehicle’s temperature can increase by 19 degrees, with no evidence that cracking the windows helps prevent the temperature inside the car reach a dangerous level.

GM ans Safe Kids USA have released a video (that you can check out below) and a set of tips aimed at helping prevent child injuries:

• Dial 911 immediately if you see an unattended child in a car. EMS professionals are trained to determine if a child is in trouble.
•  
• Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle, even with the window slightly open.
•  
• Place a cell phone, PDA, purse, briefcase, gym bag or whatever is to be carried from the car on the floor in front of a child in a backseat. This triggers adults to see children when they open the rear door and reach for their belongings.
•  
•  Set your cell phone or Blackberry reminder to be sure you dropped your child off at day care.
•  
•  Set your computer calendar program, such as Outlook, to ask, “Did you drop off at daycare today?”
•  
•  Have a plan that if your child is late for daycare that you will be called within a few minutes. Be especially careful if you change your routine for dropping off little kids at day care.
•  
•  Teach children not to play in any vehicle.
•  
•  Lock all vehicle doors and trunk after everyone has exited the vehicle – especially at home. Keep keys out of children’s reach. Cars are not playgrounds or babysitters.
•  
•  Check vehicles and trunks FIRST if a child goes missing.