* "It is not safe at all to leave a child unattended in a vehicle for any amount of time, even for a minute," says official
The Hamad Injury Prevention Programme (HIPP) of the Hamad Trauma Centre has issued a list of best practices to keep residents, especially their kids, in Qatar safer while in cars during the hot weather. “We need to remind the public of the increased risk of heat stroke, even death, if children are left in hot cars –the temperature inside a parked car can be as much as 40C hotter than it is outside. Even on a cool day, the temperature difference can be over 20C hotter. This temperature difference can cause a rise in a child’s temperature within the first five minutes. Hot days bring dangers for all of the population, but for children the risks are much higher. A child’s temperature rises five times faster than an adult’s temperature, especially on hot days, increasing their risk for dehydration and heat stroke,” said Dr Aisha Abeid, assistant director of the HIPP, the community outreach arm of the Hamad Trauma Centre.
Dr Abeid further explained that parked cars can get hot fast. “Even when a car is parked in the shade, the temperature inside a car can rise to dangerous and even fatal levels very quickly. The younger the child, the greater sensitivity to heatstroke, and the faster they can become dehydrated. Deaths from heatstroke can happen even when cars are parked in the shade and winding the window down 5cm or so has little effect on rising heat, also the colour of the seats and interior has no effect on rising heat and large cars heat up just as fast as small cars. It is not safe at all to leave a child unattended in a vehicle for any amount of time, even for a minute. If you have to leave your car for any reason, always take your child with you,” she said.
These risks are not confined to children only. "Elderly people or those with co-morbidities or chronic disease are as vulnerable as young children if they are left or wait for some time in hot cars," said Dr Abeid.
In some cases, children are left in cars because they are asleep or are forgotten by busy parents or drivers who are uninformed and do not understand the risk for young children.
"Always remember that kids with special needs need more attention and are at a higher risk to get locked or fall asleep in any parked car," Hamad Medical Corporation said in a statement.
HIPP has shared some basic recommendations to keep children safe from the extreme heat while in cars:
* It is not safe at all to leave a child unattended in a vehicle for any amount of time, even for a minute.
* Be sure that all children with you are leaving the car too, especially the younger ones.
* If you can’t find one of the children, always check the car in case a child is hiding inside.
* Make a reminder that your child is in the car with you. For example, you could put your child’s bag or lunch box on the front seat where you can see it.
* Leave something on the back seat next to your child. Choose an item that you’ll need at the end of the car trip, like your phone, wallet or bag.
* Always keep your car locked when you’re not in the car, especially in your garage at home, so your child doesn’t get in to play or hide inside.
* Never give your child car keys to play with and make sure to keep keys out of reach. This can help prevent your child from accidentally locking himself in the car.
* Talk to your child about not playing with the buttons inside the car and activate the child lock so he/she cannot control the door locks.
In case a child develops any heat-related illness symptoms such as sweating, dehydration or confusion, take him/her to a cooler area immediately to reduce the body temperature and call 999 for proper guidance.
