If you’ve ever forgotten your key in the ignition, potentially you could unintentionally leave your child in the car.
Lakewood, NJ (PRWEB) July 05, 2014
A new app released today by national nonprofit Kars4Kids in conjunction with a widespread awareness campaign aims to lower the alarmingly high number of accidental deaths each year of children forgotten in hot cars by parents and caregivers. With the number of such cases this year alone already up to 13, Kars4Kids believes increased awareness of the danger is vital. The organization’s proactive, preventive app tackles the epidemic head-on by empowering parents with technology that can be life-saving.
The Kars4Kids Safety app syncs with the car’s Bluetooth technology to set off an automatic alert when the phone’s Bluetooth disconnects from the car’s. User-friendly customizable settings allow parents to choose the setup they are most comfortable with. The default mode triggers a notification every time the phone connects to the car, eliminating the need for the driver to remember to activate the app each time, while not being intrusive and annoying.
Awareness of the dangers of leaving a baby or young child in a vehicle is crucial to preventing a tragedy from occurring. Because every ten to twenty minutes, the internal temperature of the car rises twenty degrees, it doesn’t have to be a scorching hot day for the car’s interior to turn into a lethal oven. And on a day with temperatures over 80 degrees, it takes less than an hour for the car’s interior to reach fatal levels of heat for children.
Though few parents imagine that they could forget a child of theirs in the car, it’s unfortunately become far more common since safety guidelines and regulations began encouraging keeping babies and toddlers in rear-facing car seats for longer, leaving them out of the driver’s sight. With parents and caregivers juggling multiple responsibilities, it’s all too easy for the most loving and conscientious parent to have a temporary memory lapse. And it’s a scenario that becomes even more likely when there is a change in routine or schedule.
“There’s still this common misconception that only a neglectful, irresponsible parent could leave a child in the car,” said Kars4Kids spokesperson Wendy Kirwan. “But research has clearly shown that it can happen to anyone. If you’ve ever forgotten your key in the ignition, potentially you could unintentionally leave your child in the car. With its simple alert system, our app is a powerful tool to help concerned parents avoid a tragedy.”
The Kars4Kids Android app is available for download free on the Google Play Store. For more information about the app and safety initiative, visit http://www.kars4kids.org/safety-app.
Kars4Kids is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that works to give back to the community through a variety of education, youth development, family outreach and faith-based programs. The charity provides an array of services to children and families including educational programming, school placement, tuition assistance, mentorship programs, cultural activities, religious instruction, recreation and guidance counseling.