California Highway Patrol car antennas are bedecked in purple ribbons this month in an effort to raise awareness of the dangers of leaving children unattended in hot cars.
August has been designated "Purple Ribbon Month" by 4 R Kids Sake, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing childhood death in and around vehicles.
Sizzling summer days can quickly escalate the temperature inside a vehicle, creating a deadly environment for a child, the CHP reports in a news release.
According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, hyperthermia - also known as heat stroke - was the leading cause of non-crash vehicle deaths in children in 2007. The administration also found that about 27 kids in the U.S. die due to hyperthermia or excessive heat while in a car each year, the release states.
Leaving a child alone in a vehicle is illegal in California and an infraction punishable by a fine of $100.
Anyone who sees a child unattended in a car is asked to call 911 immediately, the CHP reports.
For more information about symptoms of heat stroke in children or the state law about leaving kids unattended in cars, click here to check out a recent story on this blog.
August has been designated "Purple Ribbon Month" by 4 R Kids Sake, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing childhood death in and around vehicles.
Sizzling summer days can quickly escalate the temperature inside a vehicle, creating a deadly environment for a child, the CHP reports in a news release.
According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, hyperthermia - also known as heat stroke - was the leading cause of non-crash vehicle deaths in children in 2007. The administration also found that about 27 kids in the U.S. die due to hyperthermia or excessive heat while in a car each year, the release states.
Leaving a child alone in a vehicle is illegal in California and an infraction punishable by a fine of $100.
Anyone who sees a child unattended in a car is asked to call 911 immediately, the CHP reports.
For more information about symptoms of heat stroke in children or the state law about leaving kids unattended in cars, click here to check out a recent story on this blog.
