Devices aim to prevent leaving kids behind in hot cars

Devices aim to prevent leaving kids behind in hot cars

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ATLANTA, Georgia — Every year, reports of young children being left in hot cars make headlines. Several devices have hit the marketplace to help ensure precious cargo isn't left behind.

Last week, a toddler in east Dallas became the 21st child to die in a hot car in the U.S. this year, according to the national safety advocacy organization KidsAndCars.org.

That figure is nearly twice as high as the number of children who died by this time last year, the organization reports.

Most parents could never imagine leaving their infant alone in the car, but sadly, it happens all too frequently and these new devices are geared toward saving young lives.

"I see it on the news all the time and I think it's shameful, but I can't see it happening," said Tim Rapa, a parent from Westfield, Massachusetts.

On warm days, leaving a child in the car can be lethal. Between 1998 and 2014, 636 children died after behind left behind in a hot vehicle.

"I can't imagine the fear that someone must have of that," said Ronny Crane, a parent from Southwick, Massachusetts.

New products aimed at reminding parents that their child is still strapped into their car seat are gaining momentum.

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"In today's society, if people are so busy, so consumed in everyday life that this is occurring more and more, where children are left in a car, left behind, if there are any means to prevent that, absolutely, why not?" Crane said.

Following is a sampling of products.

Soft Clip Child Minder

A product called the Soft Clip Child Minder is a car seat buckle that syncs with a key fob. If the parent steps away from the car without unfastening the baby from the seat, it will beep.

As an additional safety measure, the car seat buckle will also sound off so that anyone passing by will be alerted as well.

"If you have small children and you know that you're the forgetful type, absolutely invest in this device," said Michael Wilk, a police officer in Chicopee, Massachusetts.

Sense A Life

Sense a Life works with your smartphone. Photo: Sense a Life
Sense a Life works with your smartphone. Photo: Sense a Life

The Sense A Life is a product that works with your smartphone. It uses a sensor to determine if the parent is exiting the car. It then gives an audio alert to remind the driver to take their child. As an extra security measure, the device sends a second alert to the parent's phone.

"It's very serious, I mean it's deadly. You leave a child in the car, those cars heat up so quick. If an officer does arrive to something like that, and a child is in distress, they're going to take that child, they're going to get them medical care, we're going to call DCF," Wilk added.

Intel Smart Clip

Photo: Intel
Photo: Intel

Another device is the Intel Smart Clip. If the temperatures in the car heat up and the harness is still fastened, parents get a notification to their smartphone.

While there are a number of different products, a child's safety is everyone's goal.

"The guilt would consume me, and I don't even know how I would go on," Jennifer Crane added.

Contributing: KSL.com

Copyright 2016 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Maggie Lohmiller

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