Hyperthermia is Leading Cause of Non-crash Child Vehicle Deaths

Recently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) warned parents that the risk of a serious injury or death during hot weather is greater for children left alone in vehicles. Recently released research shows that hyperthermia (heat-stroke) is the leading cause of non-crash vehicle deaths for children.

"Even with the windows rolled down two inches, it only takes 10 minutes for the inside of a vehicle to reach deadly temperatures on a hot summer day," said Ronald Medford, Acting Deputy Administrator of NHTSA. "Children should never be left alone in or around a motor vehicle, not even for a quick errand. Any number of things can go critically wrong in the blink of an eye."

According to a new NHTSA study, 262 children under the age of 14 are killed and 115,000 are injured in non-crash incidents on private roads, driveways and in parking lots each year. Of that number, 44 fatalities and 105,000 injuries are the results of non-crash incidents such hyperthermia, strangulation by power windows, and carbon monoxide poisoning.

Many of the remaining deaths and injuries in non-crash incidents are the result of a child being backed over by a vehicle where the driver did not see the child.

The NHTSA's safety tips to prevent hyperthermia include:

• Never leave a child alone in a vehicle.

• Do not let your children play in an unattended vehicle. Make sure they understand that a vehicle is not a play area.

• Never leave infants or children in a parked vehicle, even if the windows are partially open or if the engine is running and the air conditioning is on.

• Always inspect the front and back seats of the vehicle before locking the door and walking away.

• If your spouse or partner is taking your child to daycare, and normally it's your responsibility, call your spouse or partner to make sure everything went according to plan.

• Ask your childcare provider to phone you immediately if your child does not show up for childcare. To remind yourself that a child is in the vehicle:

—Write a note and put it on the steering wheel or anywhere you will see it when you leave the vehicle.
—Place your purse, briefcase or something else you need in the back seat so that you will have to check the back seat when you leave the vehicle.
—Keep an object in the car seat, such as a stuffed toy, to remind you that a child is in the vehicle. When the child is buckled in, place the object where you will see it when exiting the vehicle.

• Always lock vehicle doors and trunks and keep keys out of the reach of children. If a child is missing, inspect your vehicle first, including the trunk.

• Call 911 if you see a child alone in a hot vehicle. Get them out as quickly as possible if they are in distress due from the heat. Cool the child as quickly as possible.

Labels: car seats, child safety, driver education, driver safety, driver safety tips, seat belt safety, summer driving, summer vacation, vehicle safety

Summer vacation can be a time to relax and recharge, but can also be very hectic. Americans tend to try to pack as much into a short time as possible. If you are driving on your vacation this summer and packing in a lot of all-day activities, you could find yourself guilty of DWD (Driving While Drowsy).

As a society we are sleep-deprived. There seem to be too many things to do in a day, and we often sacrifice sleep to meet other demands. But sacrificing as little as one to two hours of sleep can affect the ability to stay awake during the day. Traffic safety experts have recognized that driving while sleepy is just as great a threat as driving under the influence:

•Studies show that 37% of drivers report having nodded off or fallen asleep while driving; 29% report that they have experienced this problem in the last year, and 10% in the last month. That means about 75 million drivers have nodded off in the last month.

•More than one-third (35%) of drivers who nodded off while driving within the past six months say their last experience occurred between 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. An additional 17% report they nodded off between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

•Slightly more than one in five (22%) drivers who recently experienced a drowsy driving episode report having been on the road driving for five or more hours; nearly half (47%) were driving for an hour or less.

•National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data shows that, over the past few years, there have been about 56,000 crashes annually in which driver fatigue or drowsiness was cited by police as the cause. Those crashes caused approximately 40,000 non-fatal injuries and 1,550 fatal injuries per year.

If you are packing in a full day at a theme park or a beach, you should be aware that all the activity under a hot sun will dehydrate, weaken, and tire you. Planning to hit the road for a long trip after a full day's activities could set you up for disaster. Nodding off at the wheel for only a very short time, which sleep experts refer to as microsleep, is extremely dangerous. Microsleep is an episode in which someone who is sleep-deprived nods off from a fraction of a second up to thirty seconds. If you are traveling at highway speeds of up to 70 mph, your car will travel 102 feet in just one second. Dozing off for only a second or two is long enough for your vehicle to leave the road or veer into the path of another vehicle.

Are you at risk for driving while drowsy? Before you drive, check to see if you are:

•Sleep-deprived or fatigued (6 hours of sleep or less triples your risk)
•Suffering from sleep loss (insomnia), poor quality sleep, or a sleep debt
•Driving long distances without proper rest breaks
•Driving through the night, in mid-afternoon, or when you would normally be asleep
•Taking sedating medications (antidepressants, cold tablets, antihistamines)
•Drinking even small amounts of alcohol
•Driving alone or on a long, rural, dark or boring road

Many motorists try to drive late at night to avoid traffic congestion on long trips. If you are planning a long trip, don't make the mistake of planning to drive at a time other than your normal waking hours. Don’t drive long distances after a full day of vacation activities.

When you are driving, these are the signs that you should pull off the road and rest:

•Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking, or heavy eyelids
•Daydreaming; wandering/disconnected thoughts
•Trouble remembering the last few miles driven; missing exits or traffic signs
•Yawning repeatedly or rubbing your eyes
•Trouble keeping your head up
•Drifting from your lane, tailgating, or hitting a shoulder rumble strip
•Feeling restless and irritable

The National Sleep Foundation offers the following tips for drivers before hitting the road:

•Get a good night's sleep. While this varies from individual to individual, sleep experts recommend between 7-9 hours of sleep per night for adults and 8 1/2-9 1/2 for teens.
•Plan to drive long trips with a companion. Passengers can help look for early warning signs of fatigue or switch drivers when needed. Passengers should stay awake to talk to the driver.
•Schedule regular stops every 100 miles or every two hours.
•Avoid alcohol and medications (over-the-counter or prescribed) that may impair performance. Alcohol interacts with fatigue, increasing its effects - just like drinking on an empty stomach.

Once you are on the road, follow these guidelines to avoid driving while drowsy:

•Take a 15 to 20-minute nap. More than a 20-minute nap can make you groggy for at least five minutes after awakening.
•Consume the equivalent of two cups of coffee. Caffeine is available in various forms (e.g. soft drinks, energy drinks, coffee, tea, chewing gum, and tablets) and amounts; but remember that caffeine takes about 30 minutes to enter the bloodstream and will not greatly affect those who regularly consume it. Try taking caffeine and then a short nap to get the benefits of both.
•If you are sleep-deprived, don't rely on heavily caffeinated drinks to keep you awake. Once the caffeine wears off, your body will demand sleep.

Have a safe and enjoyable summer vacation.

Labels: driver safety tips, driving tips, drowsy driving, sleep, summer driving, summer vacation, thanksgiving traffic safety

With the arrival of summer and the allure of going on vacation, more drivers will be towing various types of trailers, some for the first time. Whether towing a boat, camping trailer, or cargo trailer, there are some common rules to remember.

If you have never towed a trailer before, the first important element to consider is whether or not your vehicle's engine is strong enough to handle the trailer's weight. The trailer's weight (including cargo) should never exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of your towing vehicle. Your trailer hitch should be rated for both the towing vehicle's frame and the weight of the trailer being towed.

Make sure that the electrical connections between the vehicle and the trailer are in working order. With someone else to help, verify that the trailer’s lights, stop lights, and turn signals are in working order.

For those who are inexperienced in towing a trailer, you should be aware that the trailer's weight will push your vehicle, making it harder to stop. You can't stop in the same distance that you can with the towing vehicle alone. While towing boats and trailers, allow extra space between you and the vehicles ahead as extra stopping distance. When approaching a traffic light, make sure you start slowing early. You should try to get a feel for the tow before you take it out on an open road at highway speeds.

Be aware that the trailer may tend to sway. Hopefully the sway control will prevent this, but if it doesn't, you should stop and check to see if your load has shifted. Ensure that your load is evenly distributed.
When carrying loads in an open trailer or boat, make sure that the load is secure and there is no chance that the wind can lift anything out and send it flying onto the roadway.

If you pass another vehicle, remember that you will need twice the distance before returning to your lane. Remember also that your center rearview mirror may be ineffective if you are towing a vehicle that blocks the view. Your outside mirrors are also less effective for determining the distance from a following vehicle. If you are towing a large trailer, you may need to install larger outside mirrors. Your blind spots will be much bigger. Be extremely careful when changing lanes.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides the following pre-departure safety checklist for towing boats and trailers:
•Check and correct tire pressure on the tow vehicle and trailer.
•Make sure the wheel lug nuts/bolts are tightened to the correct torque on the tow vehicle and trailer.
•Be sure the hitch, coupler, draw bar, and other equipment that connect the trailer and the tow vehicle are properly secured and adjusted.
•Check that the wiring is properly connected; not touching the road, but loose enough to make turns without disconnecting or damaging the wires.
•Make sure all running lights, brake lights, turn signals, and hazard lights are clean and working.
•Verify that the brakes on the tow vehicle and trailer are operating correctly.
•Check that all items are securely fastened on and in the trailer.
•Be sure the trailer jack, tongue support, and any attached stabilizers are raised and locked in place.
•Check load distribution to make sure the tow vehicle and trailer are properly balanced front to back and side to side.
•Check side and rearview mirrors to make sure you have good visibility.
•Check routes and restrictions on bridges and tunnels.
•Make sure you have wheel chocks and jack stands.

Have a safe and enjoyable trip!

Labels: summer driving, summer vacation, towing boat, towing trailer

We all hold special memories of those summer vacation road trips. Some of those memories may be pleasant and some recall long hot days in the car with crying, argumentative kids.

Anyone who has children already knows what a distraction they can be. Children who are bored, hungry, or fighting with their siblings can turn a pleasant family outing into a highly stressful situation. A stressed driver is a distracted and unsafe driver.

A 2001 AAA Foundation study found that vehicle occupants (children, passengers) were responsible for 11% of distraction related crashes and a 2006 AAA Foundation study found that 80% of crashes involved driver distraction within 3 seconds of the event.

These tips may help to make this summer's vacation road trip a pleasant memory:

Ensure that children have toys, games, coloring books, and books to keep them occupied. A mesh bag for each child can be filled with age-appropriate travel activities to keep the child occupied. This travel kit should remain in the car at all times so that it is available any time you travel, even if it’s just to the local grocery store.

Some items to include in the travel kit are:
•Coloring books (use colored pencils instead of crayons that can melt in a hot car)
•Travel versions of popular games such as Battleship, Guess Who, etc. that the children can play with each other.
•Travel sized versions of Etch-A-Sketch for each child.
•Hand-held electronic games.
•Personal radios or MP3 players filled with age-appropriate music and headphones for each child.
•Age-appropriate books.
•Stuffed animals to act as traveling companions.

The back seat may become a bit messy but that is a small price to pay compared to a bored, screaming child. Try to avoid toys, such as puzzles, that have small parts that can get lost between seat cushions. If possible, keep the travel kit updated with new and interesting activities. You can find these travel items, in the toy department, at a very low cost, at most discount department stores.

Additional items that should be kept in the car’s glove compartment or trunk are:
•Extra batteries for electronic devices (also keep small screwdrivers to remove the battery cover, if necessary)
•Snacks such as crackers or chips that won’t spoil in the glove compartment.
•Small pillows for sleeping.
•Travel games for the whole family such as trivia or other guessing games.
•Books or travel games that generate family discussions about the children’s interests or what life was like for the parent as a child.

An excellent website full of games, tips, and accessories for traveling with children is MomsMinivan.com. This website also has great information on how to deal with car sickness.

If you can afford it, portable DVD players with favorite movies are a great way to keep the children occupied. Just remember that DVD screens are not allowed to be in view of the driver. If a DVD player is out of your budget, local libraries have audio books that the whole family can enjoy together.

On long trips, make rest stops every 100 miles or every two hours. If you stop at a rest stop, park at the far end of the parking lot to allow children to expend some of their pent-up energy walking to the facility and back. If there is a playground or a grassy area where the children can run and play, allow extra time for them to exercise. Rest stops often have displays, brochures, and maps that can keep the children occupied and help them learn about history and nature in the local area.

Children (up to 4' 9" tall) should always be properly secured in a child safety or booster seat with safety belts. Never allow the children to get out of their seat belts when the car is in motion. Information on the proper use of car seats can be found at the American Academy of Pediatrics website and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

If you need to discipline an unruly child, pull over, as far from the travel lane as possible, and stop the car. Trying to deal with unruly children (especially if you turn around to look at the child) while the car is in motion can be very dangerous.

Have a safe and memorable summer vacation!

For more information on driving safety, visit SafeDriver.com.

Labels: summer driving, summer vacation, traveling with children

Travel experts predict that, with the poor economy and the high price of airline tickets, fewer people will be flying and more people will be driving to nearby summer vacation destinations this year. If you are one of those planning to drive this summer, prepping the car in advance will save you a lot of grief and help make your vacation a memorable one.

Engine – At the very least, before you leave, you should have your oil changed and all your fluid levels checked. Have all belts checked for wear and proper tension. When driving on an interstate in Florida or Arizona, the last thing you want to lose is your air conditioner, so a pre-summer check of your air conditioning system should be done. While checking your engine, take time to make sure that the headlights and signal lights are functioning properly.

Tires – All tires (including your spare) should be checked for wear and proper inflation. Worn tires should be replaced before the trip. Long hot roadways and worn tires are not a good combination. Properly inflated tires will also help improve your gas mileage. Make sure you have a functioning jack and tools for changing a tire if necessary.

Windows – Make sure your windows are clean and kept clean. The rising or setting sun or an inconsiderate driver's high beams reflecting on a dirty window can blind you to the road ahead.

Emergency Kit – At a minimum, a car's emergency kit should contain:
• A flashlight with extra batteries
• Emergency signaling devices (reflective triangles, "help needed" flag, flares)
• A small tool kit (or a pliers/screwdriver/knife combination tool)
• A knife
• Duct tape
• Plastic insulating tape
• A gallon jug of water
• Brake fluid
• Spare fuses and signal light bulbs

GPS – If you have a GPS device, take time to program those important destinations before you set out. Taking your eyes off the road, even momentarily, to program a GPS can be very dangerous.

Cargo Racks – If you are adding a luggage or bicycle rack, make sure that it is properly and securely attached to the car. If your luggage rack is enclosed, make sure the locking latch is secure. Enclosed luggage racks should be mounted to prevent them blowing open in the wind. Items in the back of a pickup truck should be securely fastened and covered.

Trailer hitch – If you plan to tow a trailer, inspect the trailer hitch and electrical connections. If you don't normally tow a trailer, make sure your engine is rated for the weight of the trailer. You don't want to stall trying to pull too heavy a weight up a mountain road.

Packing – In the rush to pack a car, don't forget to pack those items, such as child care items that you will need frequent access to, last. You don't want to delay your trip by completely unpacking the trunk to look for that critical item.

Following these tips will help you have a safe and memorable vacation.

Labels: summer car care, summer driving, summer vacation

Summer time is just around the corner and people are starting to plan their summer road trips. Here are a few reminders that will help make your trip a success.

1. Car prep: Make sure that your car is ready for a long trip. Get the oil changed and make sure all the fluid levels are topped off. Check your tires and, if they are worn, replace them before you set out on a long trip. Hot, worn tires and hot road surfaces don’t make a good combination. Be sure to check your spare tire’s condition and pressure too. Get an air conditioning tune-up. Air conditioning is the last thing you want to lose on a long, hot trip. If you are packing equipment in or on a car top carrier, make sure it is secure. You don’t want your belongings flying off on the interstate. When packing the car, make sure those items you will want to retrieve on a regular basis are packed last and are easily accessible. Make sure that your car has an emergency kit with a flashlight, batteries, emergency flags and reflectors, tape for wrapping and sealing hoses, a good combination tool, coolant, and water.

2. Give yourself enough time: Plan your trip so you have plenty of time to get to your destination. When setting out on a long trip, make sure you have had enough rest before departing. Driving while sleepy is just as dangerous as driving under the influence. If you start to feel drowsy, don't push yourself. If possible, swap drivers. If there isn’t another driver available, stop and take a short nap. Never try to use caffeine to replace sleep. A lot of people plan their trips to travel at night when traffic is light, but if you are not normally awake during those hours, you risk falling asleep at the wheel.

3. Traveling with children: Bored children can be very distracting on a long trip. Make sure the kids have plenty of activities to keep them occupied. Carry healthy snacks and drinks for them. Plan your trip to allow several extra hours and stop often to let the kids out for exercise to drain off some of their excess energy. Engage them in family games or stop at your local library and pick up some family friendly audio books. An excellent source for games and travel activities can be found at Mom’s Minivan.com.

4. Towing boats or trailers: Make sure that your trailer hitch is firmly secured and that all electrical connections and lights are operating properly. Remember that the extra weight will push your car forward, so it will take longer to stop. Give yourself extra following distance between you and any vehicles ahead. Make sure any equipment that you have stowed in a boat or open trailer is securely fastened and covered.

5.Planning your routes: Plan your route and schedule your trip so that you will get the most enjoyment from the experience. Traveling the back roads can be a lot more interesting and picturesque than the interstate. Use caution if you are not used to the terrain you’ll be traveling in. Driving in the mountains requires a lot more caution because the roads are narrow and you can never tell what is around the next curve or over the next hill. Use extra caution when traveling down steep mountain grades. When traveling in unfamiliar territory, study your map at each stop and have a companion act as a navigator. A lot of conflicts occur when native drivers have to deal with slow tourists who don’t know where they are going. GPS devices are a great new technology for drivers in unfamiliar territory.

6. Driving distractions: Driving takes all of your attention and skill at all times. Driving distractions such as using a cell phone, reading a map, eating, or dealing with unruly children take your attention away from the very important task of driving. You cover more distance than you realize and a lot can happen if your eyes are off the road even for just a second or two. If you need to read a map or deal with unruly children, pull off the road and stop. Take time to stop and eat instead of trying to deal with a meal in the car. Cell phone use is one of the most dangerous distractions on the road today. Leave the distractions aside and enjoy the view.

7. Driving in unfamiliar places: Be aware when driving in other states that the driving laws there may be different from what you are used to. Some states have laws requiring drivers to stop for anyone approaching a crosswalk. Don’t assume the car ahead will keep going. If you live and drive in a rough-and-tumble city environment, you might find it startling and confusing when rural drivers exercise common courtesies that are a thing of the past in the city. Courtesy on the road is a key to staying safe.

8. Never leave children or pets in a hot car: Even if you leave the windows cracked, summer sun and hot temperatures can easily drive temperatures inside a closed car to over 150 degrees in a very short time. In those conditions, heatstroke can set in very quickly.

9. Security: Thieves look for out-of-state tags because it means there may be valuables in the car. Secure cameras and other valuables in the trunk and never leave the car unlocked and unattended, no matter how short a time. Thieves are fast and bold.

10. Alcohol and hot weather: Vacations and alcohol often go together, but use caution. Hot weather dehydrates and weakens you. Alcohol isn’t effective for hydrating or cooling down. In a dehydrated, overheated state, the effects of alcohol can be more intense. If you plan to go out for an evening that involves alcohol, leave the car at the hotel and take a cab. Remember that driving buzzed is driving impaired.

Have a safe, enjoyable, and a very memorable vacation.

Additional Summer Safety Driving Tips:
Tips for Safe Summer Driving: How to Select a Rental Car

Labels: summer driving, summer vacation