Leaving a child locked in the car for a few seconds may seem harmless. But it is not. For several reasons, which puts the health and the life of the child at risk. Fortunately, most parents and caretakers recognize the dangers menacing a child locked alone in a vehicle and accidents are increasingly rare, but they should not happen at all. Therefore, always keeping in mind the multiple possible dangers and adopting preventive habits minimizes the probability of distraction , a quick errand, a different routine, or a busier day, which may facilitate a situation of risk or even a tragedy. Temperature and air quality The most common danger of leaving a child inside a locked car is associated with heat. In hotter days, the risk is aggravated , but the risk is real even when the day is not too hot. The temperature inside a locked car increases rapidly to much higher values than the outside temperature. That increase is faster when the vehicle is in the sun, also occurring in the shadow. A locked vehicle is like a greenhouse, heating and retaining the heat. Children, especially the young ones, are particularly vulnerable to temperature variations , since their regulation mechanisms are not as efficient as in older people. Therefore, inside a hot car, the body temperature of a child also rises rapidly, potentiating insolation or heatstroke , which are often fatal. There is not a safe temperature to leave a child alone in a vehicle. The resort to the air conditioning system or other mechanisms does not guarantee the child’s safety. The quality of air is another factor to consider. In a locked vehicle, with little or zero ventilation, the quality of the air degrades : the oxygen available diminishes and the carbon dioxide increases. Additionally, in potentially contaminated environments or when the exhaust systems are not working properly, other compounds may accumulate further degrading the quality of the air. And leaving the windows open or the ventilation / air conditioning on is not a guarantee that everything will be fine. Mechanical accidents Modern vehicles have increasingly sophisticated safety systems for the protection of children, However, there are not uniquely modern vehicles around and children are very curious and creative. Buttons, lights, and screens are in general rather attractive to try. With more or less probability, depending on the vehicle and the child, the latter may accidentally start the car, release the hand brake, unlock the doors, open the windows or doors and much more… Accidents with serious injuries in such circumstances are not rare, contrary to what one might think. Criminality, physical and psychological dangers One must also consider the risk of criminality , either to steal the vehicle or some object inside, either to abduct the child. Besides, a child trying to escape out of a vehicle when seeing a stranger approaching (or by fear of being alone in the car), might be exposed to multiple risks, including getting lost. Also remember that being left alone in a vehicle or other locked space of the kind may be frightening for a young child and lead to feelings of abandonment or fear, that can leave a durable mark. Preventing risk situations The best preventive measure is never leaving a child alone in a vehicle , independently of being completely locked or even in the shadow with the windows open and ventilation on. The welfare of children depends on the attention and care of adults around. There is nothing more important than the safety of a child. People that are rather forgetful, busy or with frequently altered routines with children should adopt additional safety measures , such as for instance: Acquire the habit, when entering the car, of always putting something in the back seat that would be essential to retrieve when stopping and getting out of the car. It could be the mobile phone, the wallet, the computer, or any other object since it will require you to look at the back seat before leaving. To place something on the front and clearly visible, reminding you that there are children in the car: a diaper bag, a toy or any other thing that is not usual when not transporting children. Use a specific rearview mirror for the back seat. Program alerts on your mobile when transporting children. Create the routine of always checking the back seat when leaving the car. One can also resort to safety devices, such as baby car seats with sensors communicating with the driver’s mobile phone, and other novelties offered by technology. Leaving a child alone in a vehicle, even for merely seconds, can have devastating consequences. Therefore, it should never happen. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
