A 3-month-old dies in another hot car incident outside a daycare in Virginia. The lifeless body of an infant was found inside a vehicle parked in a daycare facility on Wednesday, May 22.
Police authorities immediately responded to a distressing call that came just after 3:00 p.m. at a daycare in Morgantown, West Virginia, after receiving a report of a cardiac arrest.
3-Month-Old Infant Dies in Hot Car
The Morgantown Police responded to a call regarding a cardiac arrest on Wednesday afternoon at the 3600 block of Collins Ferry Road. However, as the officers arrived, they discovered that the call for rescue was not for a heat stroke but for a child trapped inside a car.
Authorities arrived and saw the emergency medical services (EMS) near an SUV in the parking lot responding to the infant. Inside the vehicle, a young child was found in a car seat in the back seat, sadly deceased, as confirmed by EMS.
According to the police statement, it was confirmed that the child inside the car was a 3-month-old infant who had seemingly been left unattended in the car while the parent was away at work.
Authorities are investigating the duration of time the child was in the car but suspect it may have been several hours, given the high to mid-80s temperatures reported by Weather.com in Morgantown throughout the week.
The State Medical Examiner's Office and local law enforcement are actively engaged in probing the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident.
As of now, no charges or arrests have been announced, pending further information gathering by the Morgantown Police and the Medical Examiner's Office.
Morgantown Police Chief Eric Powell expressed condolences and acknowledged the profound impact of such a loss on the affected family, friends, and the broader community. The department remains committed to a thorough investigation to ascertain the facts and determine any necessary legal actions.
Preventing Hot Car Fatalities in Children
Children are more vulnerable to serious fatalities due to heat-related causes. Children's bodies are more susceptible than adults since their bodies have the capability to heat up three to five times faster and sweat less, which in turn makes it harder for them to stay cool. This vulnerability is particularly pronounced in very young children who are unable to remove clothing, signal discomfort, or exit a hot car independently.
Heat illnesses, including potentially fatal heatstroke, can develop rapidly in a child left in a parked car, necessitating immediate medical intervention to prevent brain damage or death.
Despite the dangers, statistics reveal a concerning trend, with an average of 35 toddlers succumbing to hot car incidents annually, as reported by Kids and Car Safety data.
The ubiquity of cars in American households, with over 90% of households owning one according to U.S. census surveys, underscores the urgent need for technological solutions to mitigate these risks.
Car manufacturers, legislators, and child safety advocates are actively collaborating to implement effective measures that can save children's lives from the perils of sweltering car temperatures.
Peter Kurdock, general counsel for Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, highlights the availability of technology that could prevent a significant number of these tragic deaths.
Despite progress, challenges persist, with about 25% of hot car deaths involving children entering vehicles on their own, according to Kids and Car Safety data.
The organization has also documented instances of hot car deaths in vehicles equipped with reminder systems, indicating the ongoing need for comprehensive solutions and heightened awareness.
