Never Leave Your Child Alone in or around Cars
Between 1998 and 2007, nearly 360 children died as a result of being left alone in a car. By leaving your children unattended in a vehicle for even a few minutes, you are needlessly risking their lives.
Prevention Steps:
- Never leave your child unattended in a vehicle
- Make a habit of checking your vehicle before leaving it
- Keep a stuffed animal or other reminder next to you in the car as a cue that your child is with you
- If you see a child left alone in a car, contact the police or 911
Safety Facts:
- 33% of children who die from being left in a hot car are less than one year old
- Cracking your vehicle's windows has very little effect on its temperature
- When left in a hot vehicle, a child's body temperature can increase three to five times as fast as an adult's
- Children left unattended in a vehicle are at risk of being kidnapped.
- Children left alone in a car can push buttons, disengage the brakes, put the car in gear or even leave the vehicle and walk away.
View a printable version of the Never Leave Your Child Alone brochure:
How to Prevent Driving Backovers
Between 1997 and 2003, more than 20 Utah children were killed and more than 41
5 were seriously injured by backovers. In 2004 alone, 10 children were killed.
Please remember to take a few simple steps before you back up.
Prevention Steps
- Before driving, check the street, driveway and area around your vehicle
- Drivers of SUVs and trucks should be extra careful
- Children should be taught not to play in, under or around vehicles
- Supervise children when a driver is leaving the home
- Adjust the driver’s seat as high as needed to see clearly out the rear window
- Roll down windows to hear children
- Adjust side and rear mirrors to reduce blind spots
Major Risk Factors
- Children under 5 years of age
- High-profile vehicles such as SUVs, vans and trucks
- Vehicles traveling in reverse
- Rushed and distracted drivers
View a printable version of the Spot the Tot brochure:
To order printed copies of these brochures and window clings, please call Primary Children's Child Advocacy department 801-662-6580.
Spot the Tot campaign partners: Primary Children’s Medical Center, Utah Department of Public Safety, Emergency Medical Services for Children, Utah County Health Department, Utah Department of Health, Injury Free Coalition for Kids, SafeKids Utah, Salt Lake Valley Health Department.