Automobile Trunks Not a Good Place for Children to Play

A serious issue that affects many of us is child safety and automobiles. Children are naturally curious and love to explore their surroundings. Children left unattended in or near a vehicle will see this as an opportunity to have fun and amuse themselves, but a simple game of "hide and seek" can quickly turn deadly if, for instance, they get trapped in the trunk of the car.

Aside from the possible trauma that can occur from their being frightened, children could become injured while thrashing around in a dark trunk, and there is also the very real concern about physical impairment due to rising temperatures. Locked in a trunk, a child's temperature can rise very quickly, resulting in heatstroke or asphyxiation.

Tips for prevention of accidents involving children and cars

Children need to be taught about the dangers associated with playing in and around cars when adults are not present:
Teach children not to play in or around cars, and that vehicle trunks are for cargo, not for playing.Always supervise children carefully when in and around vehicles.Check the trunk right away if any child is missing.Lock car doors and trunk and be sure keys and remote entry devices are out of sight and reach of children.Keep the rear fold-down seats closed/locked to keep children from climbing into the trunk from inside of the car.

Retrofit car with emergency release

Auto manufacturers as of September 1, 2001 were required to equip all new vehicle trunks with a 'glow in the dark' trunk release inside the trunk compartment. Show children how to use the release in case of an emergency. Owners of a car that is older and does not have the 'glow in the dark' trunk release should have one installed. Visit a local automobile dealership and ask about getting the vehicle retrofitted with a trunk release mechanism.

There might even be discounts associated with installing this device. Ask an agent who deals in auto insurance if this might be the case.

Important things to consider

Younger children are more sensitive to heat than older children and adults, and are at greater risk for heatstroke.
High temperature, humidity, and poor ventilation add up to the extremely dangerous environment within a vehicle's trunk.
Even in cooler temperatures, most vehicles can heat up to dangerous temperatures very quickly. An outside temperature in the mid 60s can cause a vehicle's inside temperature to rise above 110 degrees Fahrenheit. The inside temperature of a car can rise almost 20 degrees Fahrenheit within the first 10 minutes.

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Title Post: Automobile Trunks Not a Good Place for Children to Play
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