UF expert says bystanders shouldn’t hesitate to call 911 if they see small kids left in cars

Attention shoppers: You could help save a life on your next trip to the store by keeping an eye out for small children left alone and exposed to sweltering heat inside parked cars, says a University of Florida pediatric critical care expert.

“Every summer, children die under these circumstances, but there’s something we can do about it,” said Arno Zaritsky, M.D., chief of pediatric critical care at UF’s College of Medicine. “We just have to be observant and be willing to take responsibility and do what we think is in the best interests of the child.”

August is Purple Ribbon Month, reminding drivers never to leave youngsters unattended in cars. From July 2000 to June 2001, 78 children died in the United States in non-traffic accidents involving motor vehicles, and the most common cause was exposure to overheated vehicle interiors, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The temperature in a closed vehicle on a hot day can quickly exceed 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Zaritsky said a child can die from heat stroke if his or her body temperature climbs above 106 to 107 degrees Fahrenheit. Small children are more vulnerable to heat stroke than adults are because their bodies have less effective sweating mechanisms and greater surface area compared with body weight.

If a child left in a vehicle appears alert, it may be safe to wait a moment to see if the driver reappears, Zaritsky said. But if the child appears groggy or unconscious, or if the car is parked at a large shopping complex where the driver can’t be located immediately, take action and call 911.

“Better to be safe than sorry,” he said. “In this situation, every minute counts.”

Concerned bystanders should leave rescue efforts to professionals, said Hal Robbins, executive director of the Florida Police Chiefs Association in Tallahassee.

“You can help by calling 911 and giving an accurate address, location and description of the vehicle,” Robbins said. “Stay in the area, stay on the line and follow the dispatcher’s instructions.” If the driver returns before help arrives, don’t start a confrontation, he said.

“That’s not your role, and it could lead to other problems,” Robbins said. “Focus on helping get the child out of the car, and let the police evaluate the driver’s actions.”