Driving with only one shoe on

Driving with only one shoe on


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You’re likely asking yourself; why in the world would I drive with only one shoe on? The answer is: a simple but noticeable change in your routine can help you remember your precious baby in the back seat when you reach your destination.

If you’re a parent or caregiver, consistently following a routine whenever you drive with a child in the car will go a long way toward preventing a tragic accident.

According to kidsandcars.org, 38 children die every year on average from heatstroke as a result of being left inside a hot car for too long. The most severe heatstroke happens when the body temperature rises to 104 F (40 C) or higher.

Photo credit: Shutterstock

Noheatstroke.org provides more details:

  • 645 deaths of children since 1998
  • More than half were under 2 years old
  • 53 percent were forgotten by a caregiver
  • 29 percent were playing in a parked vehicle
  • 17 percent were intentionally left in a car – likely while someone ran a "quick" errand

“Even 15 minutes in an increasingly hot car can be fatal to a young child,” explains Magdalena Quinton, M.D. at Jordan Family Health. “Their smaller bodies overheat three to five times faster than an adult’s, making them more susceptible to heatstroke.”

This short, no sound video illustrates how quickly a car heats up on an average summer day.

Normal, everyday people

Many believe that only a neglectful or abusive person would subject a child to even a few minutes in a stifling hot car. The fact is most people who have lost children to car-induced heatstroke are loving and responsible parents or very capable caregivers.

“This kind of tragedy is preventable; so we need to get over being horrified at the suggestion that any one of us could inadvertently make this mistake,” says Quinton. “The logical approach is to learn how this accident can happen and what we can do to prevent it.”

Out of sight; out of mind….

As described in Parents.com, the act of forgetting a child in a car often has to do with a brain process we’re all familiar with: the basal ganglia. Commonly called the autopilot, it regulates our habitual responses and is heavily engaged as we drive our cars. How many of us have driven to work with something on our minds and not really noticed details of that familiar route?

This brain process is more active when there is increased stress in our lives or a lack of sleep. Repeated incidences have shown that parents who forgot their child in a car were on autopilot. The trick is to override it with alerts that remind us of the child in the back seat.

Photo credit: Shutterstock

Common Prevention Tips:

  1. Put something big and bright on the car seat – like a neon orange bear or a favorite toy. Move it to the front seat when the baby’s in the back. The diaper bag right next to you is a great reminder too.
  2. Leave an item in the back seat that you’ll need during the day like your mobile phone, purse, backpack or laptop.
  3. Install a rear-facing child-safety mirror. Train yourself to glance at your child as you drive, just like you check your rear-view and side mirrors.
  4. It might seem silly but on days that you’re tired or especially stressed, put one of your shoes in the back. You’re bound to notice as you limp away from the car – and remember your child.
  5. Check twice! Repeatedly open the back car door and look before you leave.
  6. Put a reminder on your phone that pops up at the usual time you arrive at your destination.
  7. Text your co-parent when you actually drop off the baby. Ask your caregiver to call if your child doesn’t arrive as expected, and keep calling until she talks to you or someone on the list you provide – no voice messages. Alert your daycare if baby stays home.
Remember, accidently leaving a child in a hot car is only part of the problem. Resist the temptation to run a “quick” errand while your little one stays in the car. Locking your car when you’re not driving and installing escape latches in the trunk will protect children too.

Older kids? Ogden Regional Medical Center has skateboarding and biking safety tips for them.

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