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Children In Vehicles 1
Children Left In Unattended Vehicles...
Raising Awareness for This Silent Killer
Clinton R. Shelley
Colleyville Fire Department
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Children In Vehicles 2
CERTIFICATION STATEMENT
I hereby certify that this paper constitutes my own product, that where the language of others is set
forth, quotation marks so indicate, and that appropriate credit is given where I have used the
language, ideas, expressions, or writings of another.
Signed: _________________________________________
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Children In Vehicles 3
Abstract
Every year hundreds if not thousands of children under the age of five are left in
unattended vehicles. Tragically, many of these children are seriously injured or die as a result of
this error in judgment by their parent or caregiver. The problem is the Colleyville, Texas Fire
Department has no program to raise awareness for this problem resulting in increased risk to the
children of Colleyville. The purpose of this action research was to identify if this problem exists in
other communities, what programs are in place, and if vehicles can be made safe for children.
Through literature review, experiments, and a nationwide survey, it was apparent that there is
indeed a need for greater awareness in Colleyville and across the country.
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Children In Vehicles 5
Children Left In Unattended Vehicles...Raising Awareness for This Silent Killer
Introduction
In the period between 1998 2006, 300 children have died across the United States due to
being left in unattended vehicles (Null, 2006). In the period between 1990 2005, there were 278
reported cases of children left in unattended vehicles in the state of Texas, of these, 92 children
died as a result of this action. (Kids And Cars, 2005). In the period between 2000 2006, the
Colleyville, Texas Fire Department has responded to 51 incidents of children being left in
unattended vehicles resulting in two injuries and no deaths to date (Department Report, 2006).
According to the United States Fire Administration (USFA), one of the largest at risk groups to
injury or death from fire is children under the age of five. Ironically, most all of the deaths since
1990 are related to children being left in unattended vehicles and have been children under the age
of five. The problem is the Colleyville, Texas Fire Department has no program in place to
educate the community on the hazards of leaving children in unattended vehicles; thereby
increasing the risk of injury or death to the children of Colleyville, Texas. The purpose of this
research is to identify current programs and issues related to children left in unattended vehicles
and develop a program for the community of Colleyville, Texas. Utilizing action research, this
researcher will address the following research questions in an effort to develop an effective
community awareness program related to this topic:
How does Colleyville, Texas compare to other communities with regard to the frequency of
occurrence of children left in unattended vehicles?
What current programs are being used to raise awareness about children left in unattended
vehicles?
What factors affect the rate of temperature rise within a vehicle?
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Children In Vehicles 6
What products are available to reduce the rate of temperature increase within parked
vehicles?
How effective are the products at keeping temperatures within a safe temperature range for
children to remain in the vehicle?
Background & Significance
The Colleyville Fire Department (CFD) is a sub-urban department located in the Mid-
Cities area between Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. The Department is bordered on its eastern
limits by Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Airport. The Department began more than 50 years ago as an
all volunteer agency and has transitioned over the last 25 years to an all career staff of 30 personnel
with five additional administrative staff. Shift staffing consists of ten personnel covering an
engine, medic, and quint responding out of two stations. Colleyville is considered one of the most
affluent communities in North Texas and is home to more than 21,000 people dispersed across
more than 13 square miles. All Operations personnel work a standard three platoon rotation with
one day on duty and two days off duty.
Due to the demographics of the area, a large number of day care facilities and stay-at-home
parents make their home in Colleyville. The median age of Colleyville residents is 37.8 (Council
of Governments, 2006). This demographic lends itself to a large number of small children within
the community. The presence of these two components also provides the necessary ingredients for
response to children left in unattended vehicles. As mentioned previously, the CFD has responded
to a total of 51 incidents of children being left unattended in vehicles between 2000 and 2006. At
no time in the past has any effort to create awareness for this situation been conducted. It was not
until the summer of 2005 that consideration was given to program development in this area. In
May of 2005, the CFD responded to two separate incidents about three weeks apart where toddlers
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Children In Vehicles 7
between two and three years of age were left in their parents vehicles in the garage for 20-30
minutes before the parents remembered and went back to get the children out of the vehicle. In
one of these incidents, the parent had left the keys in the car and locked the doors. Fire crews
arrived on scene and had to break out the window to remove the child. Both children were treated
and transported by CFD paramedics suffering from severe heat exhaustion and dehydration.
Fortunately, in both instances the children made complete recoveries and suffered no long term
adverse effects.
According to Kids And Cars (2005), when the outside temperature is 90 degrees
Fahrenheit, the inside temperature of a parked vehicle with the windows cracked can reach 125
degrees Fahrenheit in just 20 minutes and as much as 140 degrees Fahrenheit in 30 minutes. In
both instances in Colleyville, the outside temperature was greater than 90 degrees Fahrenheit and
the incidents were reported between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. which is often considered the hottest
time of the day. These sobering statistics only intensify the need for an effective awareness
program related to this topic.
It was at this point that this researcher was directed to pull reports related to this type of
incident and the decision was then made that program development was to begin immediately
based on the findings and the volume of incidents for such a small community. As with any fire
service organization the mission directly involves preservation of life and property from all types
of emergencies and disasters. The presence of this situation has created awareness within the
organization of a significant gap in our prevention related efforts that must be corrected before a
similar incident results in a less fortunate outcome. Although not directly related to reducing fire
death and injury statistics in the United States, the reduction in the number of children being left in
unattended vehicles is of utmost importance and this task is likely to only be accomplished through
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Children In Vehicles 8
intense public awareness efforts beginning at the grass roots level. Successful creation and
implementation of this program will likely yield positive long term results in the Colleyville area
related to the USFAs operational objective of reducing injury and death among children under the
age of five.
The central focus of theLeading Community Risk Reduction course is on the use and
understanding of the Community Risk Reduction Model. The first step in this model is Getting
Ready. One of the objectives within the Getting Ready component is taking responsibility for risk
reduction through risk mitigation. The goal of this research is to reduce the risk related to children
in unattended vehicles through program development and implementation community wide.
Literature Review
Research on childhood injuries and prevention measures is a field which has been studied
and improved upon for many years. Injury and death statistics for children have been gathered for
many years as well. Despite this research in many areas related to children, very little injury
statistics were available related to children left in unattended vehicles. This research and statistics
gathering only began in a more significant manner since 1990 (Kids And Cars, 2005). Data
reporting on this topic has been under reported which statistically underscores the true significance
of the problem nationwide. Another interesting point which substantiates the significance of
incidents not reported is that the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) has no designated
code to report motor vehicle heat related deaths, nor is there any United States national or state
data source currently collecting this information (A Guard, SS Gallagher, 2005). According to a
report released by the Center for Disease Control [CDC] (2002), of the various ways children have
been killed in or around motor vehicles, excessive heat exposure was the most common; however,
scientific literature examining the circumstances of these incidents is minimal. Background
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Children In Vehicles 9
information on these types of incidents from references such as books and magazines were
minimal despite extensive library research efforts. The most prevalent form of information was
found on the internet and through networking responses from other fire and EMS agencies.
The literature review was developed from the five research questions being used for this
research: (1) How does Colleyville, Texas compare to other communities with regard to the
frequency of occurrence of children left in unattended vehicles? (2) What current programs are
being used to raise awareness about children left in unattended vehicles? (3) What factors affect
the rate of temperature rise within a vehicle? (4) What products are available to reduce the rate of
temperature increase within parked vehicles? (5) How effective are the products at keeping
temperatures within a safe temperature range for children to remain in the vehicle?
The initial research question was to determine how Colleyville, Texas compares to other
communities with regard to the frequency of children left in unattended vehicles. As stated
previously, between 2000 2006, the CFD responded to 51 incidents involving children left in
unattended vehicles (Dept. Report, 2006). Of these 51 incidents, all were accidental circumstances
and in no incident were the parents or responsible parties cited or prosecuted for their actions. As
stated previously, the collection of data on the topic of children left in vehicles is relatively new
with consistent data only being gathered over the last 15 or so years. As this researcher began to
search through the various types of media available, it was apparent that community or fire
department specific response statistics were going to be available in a limited quantity at best.
Those specific statistics that were found have been included in this review, however, a multitude of
data of this variety was provided during survey responses which will be presented later in the
research.
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Children In Vehicles 10
A report received from the Escondido, California Fire Department (EFD) showed that from
July 19, 2004 to July 10, 2006 their Department responded to a total of 72 incidents involving
children locked in vehicles. Of these, none resulted in injury or death to the child involved (EFD
Report, 2006). According to a Las Vegas Sun Editorial (2005, October 5), the Las Vegas, Clark
County, and North Las Vegas Fire Departments had been dispatched to a total of 2,171 incidents
from January 2002 to October 2005 to aid children left unattended or accidentally locked in
vehicles. Since 2001, seven children in the same area have died as a result of their entrapment
(Las Vegas Sun, 2005, October 4).
In 2003, Texas led the nation in the number of pediatric heat related car deaths (Texas
Dept. of Family Protective Services, 2006). According to Kids And Cars (2006) more than 1,000
children have died in the United States since 1999 because they were left unattended in or around
cars. Of these, about 25% or more than 250 of these deaths were the result of being left inside the
car during hot weather.
In another study, Guard & Gallagher (2005) found that between January 1995 and
December 2002, a total of 233 deaths were recorded involving children left in parked motor
vehicles. Although the focus of the study was on the United States, the researchers also identified
six cases in Australia, four cases in Japan, two cases in England, two cases in Israel, one case in
Italy, and one case in Malaysia. The study also identified no patterns to the number of deaths each
year and throughout the course of the study deaths were recorded in 41 out of the 50 states across
the United States.
Year Fatalities
2006 4 (as of 5/28/06)
2005 42
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Children In Vehicles 12
Make arrangements with your childs babysitter or daycare facility to call anytime
your child will not be there.
If you see a child alone in a vehicle, get involved.
Never leave your keys where a child can get to them. Make sure your car is locked
so kids cannot get inside when un-supervised.
Do not underestimate the capabilities of your child.
UMHSC (2006) made similar suggestions, as well as a few additional health related facts and tips.
Those suggestions were:
Never leave the keys in the car.
Children left in vehicles are at greater risk for abduction as well as heat related
injuries.
Teach your child the dangers of the car and the trunk.
If your child gets locked in a car, call 911 immediately.
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke can set in quickly in enclosed vehicles.
On a 93 degree day, the interior of a vehicle can reach 125 degrees in as little as 20
minutes.
Heat stroke can occur in a matter of minutes for infants and small children.
Leaving the windows cracked is not effective for preventing heat related injuries.
Another bullet-pointed page in the form of a printable fact sheet was found on the website
of the Texas Department of Family Protective Services (TDFPS). The points were much the same
as the previous websites, but this website included links to prevention materials, handouts, and
other awareness items to raise awareness. The program was titled Look Before You Leave
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Children In Vehicles 13
(TDFPS, 2006). According to this website, the goal was to raise awareness among daycare
workers and childcare facilities.
In an article found in the South Florida Sun Sentinel (July 8, 2006) a public safety
announcement (PSA) is under development at Florida Atlantic University to address this growing
epidemic. The PSA will depict two cars and a small, helpless baby in the back seat of one vehicle.
The cars will carry on a conversation about how dangerous and sometimes deadly it is to leave a
child unattended in a vehicle. The PSA will utilize cartoons to spread this message citing their
research indicating it to be the most effective form of media for topics of this nature. The end goal
of this project is to show the PSA on media outlets all across the state of Florida.
An additional prevention campaign found at the fire department level was in San Diego,
California. The program called EPIC Medics is nationally recognized for its efforts in raising
awareness for child injury prevention throughout southern California. This program has a
component directly related the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles. The poster is in
the form of a decal affixed to the side of San Diego FD ambulances which reads: You wouldnt
leave your groceries in the car, why would you leave me? with a picture of a little girl on the
opposite end of the decal. This program was initiated following the death of a little girl named
Kaitlyn Russell in August of 2000. The program is a component of 4 R Kids Sake which was
started after Kaitlyns death. As a result of Kaitlyns death and the efforts to raise awareness, The
California Legislature adopted Kaitlyns Law in 2002 which makes it a misdemeanor to leave a
child unattended in a hot vehicle (4 R Kids Sake, 2006).
According to the Chicago Sun Times (September 23, 2004), fewer than 25% of states had
legislation making it a crime to leave a child unattended in a vehicle. In an article found in the
Child Protection Law Report(August 12, 2004) only nine states across the United States had
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Children In Vehicles 14
enacted legislation to help prevent these incidents from happening. The same article also reports
that of the states with current laws in place, Californias is the most comprehensive.
According to the Texas Penal Code, Title 5, Chapter 22, Section 10 22.10:
LEAVING A CHILD IN A VEHICLE. (a) A person commits an offense if he
intentionally or knowingly leaves a child in a motor vehicle for longer than five
minutes, knowing that the child is: (1) younger than seven years of age; and (2) not
attended by an individual in the vehicle who is fourteen years of age or older. (b)
An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor. Note: If the child is
injured, the charge is then elevated to child endangerment, which is a felony. The
penalties are six months to two years in jail and a fine up to $10,000.00.
This law is representative of what has been adopted by other states across the country (Kids And
Cars, 2005). As of November 2006, 11 states have legislation in place related to leaving kids in
unattended vehicles and 15 states are currently considering proposed legislation on the subject
(Kids And Cars, 2006).
Of all the various forms of awareness campaigns and programs, the most in comprehensive
by far was the organization Kids And Cars. This organization was started in the late 1990s and
has grown to become the most thorough data collection point on all topics related to children
injured or killed in or around vehicles. The website contains statistical data, legislative updates
and even a model law draft to decrease the length of time needed to draft proposed legislation
(KidsAndCars, 2006). In addition to the previously stated items, Kids And Cars provides a
detailed list of various safety-related devices available for cars to decrease the likelihood of injury
or death among children in or around vehicles. The Kids and Cars website also provides a variety
of awareness campaign items to handout or provide during special events or gatherings such as
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Children In Vehicles 15
open houses, etc. There is a wide variety of awareness information available, and the level of
awareness at the state legislative level is growing, what else is needed to reduce the occurrence of
this tragedy in our society?
The focus of the third research question was on determining which factors affect the rate of
temperature rise within a vehicle. According to Null (2006) the atmosphere and windows of a
vehicle are relatively transparent to the suns shortwave radiation, however, this shortwave
radiation does warm the non-transparent items within the vehicle such as the seats, dashboard, or
car seats for instance. These items in turn give off long wave radiation which is very efficient at
warming the atmosphere within the vehicle. These steps make the interior warming of a vehicle a
two step process.
Null (2006) also conducted a study to measure the rate of rise of temperature in an enclosed
car on 16 dates between May 16th and August 8th, 2002. The vehicle used was a dark blue mid-
sized sedan with medium gray interior. The test was also done leaving the windows of the vehicle
cracked.
The findings of this study were as follows:
Average elapsed time versus temperature rise
o 10 minutes 19 degrees Fahrenheit
o 20 minutes 29 degrees Fahrenheit
o 30 minutes 34 degrees Fahrenheit
o 60 minutes 43 degrees Fahrenheit
o 1 to 2 hours 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit
The study also concluded that leaving the windows cracked had little effect on the temperature
rise and the vehicles interior color was probably the biggest temperature rise factor.
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Children In Vehicles 16
Faughn (2005) reported that while folding window shades can reduce the interior
temperature of a vehicle, it does not make it safe for a child to be left inside. According to CDC
(2002) during a one year study of children killed or injured in or around motor vehicles, excessive
heat exposure while in a motor vehicle was the leading cause of death, however, scientific
information examining the circumstances of such incidents was minimal. In a study conducted by
General Motors (GM) in 2003 researchers found that a child could suffer serious injury in just a
few minutes while exposed to dry heat conditions. A second study done showed that when the dry
heat was replaced with a humid, hot scenario, the length of time to serious injury and/or death was
cut in half. The GM study went on to suggest that a childs internal body temperature increases at
a rate three to five times faster than that of an adult. The study went on to show that ambient
temperatures as cool as 60 degrees Fahrenheit could prove lethal to small children (GM, 2004). In
a study conducted by Stanford University in 2005, it was determined that cracking the windows
had no impact on the rate of temperature rise, and that running the air conditioner in the vehicle
momentarily prior to exiting only delayed the temperature rise by about five minutes (McLaren,
Null, & Quinn, 2005). This same study also indicated that all temperature measurements were
taken in the shade inside the vehicle and out of direct sunlight. The implications of the study
suggest that if a child were exposed to direct sunlight, the rate of onset of symptoms would be
more rapid and more devastating (McLaren, Null, & Quinn, 2005). As suggested by one source
earlier, scientific data on the factors affecting the rate of temperature rise in parked vehicles is
minimal. This researcher was unable to obtain any research data related to items such as the use of
tinted windows, various types of window shades, fans, air conditioner left on with the vehicle
running, or other possible variables. Due to this difficulty, this researcher conducted experiments
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Children In Vehicles 17
utilizing some of the aforementioned factors to determine their viability as options to reduce threat
potential.
The fourth research question was directed at determining products available in the market
place with the intention of reducing interior motor vehicle temperatures. Products aimed at
reducing interior vehicle temperatures are plentiful in the marketplace, however, there were no
products found despite extensive searching that indicated they could cool a vehicle significantly
enough to leave a child in the vehicle. One such device was a Malaysian product called E-Vent.
This device fits in the window of the vehicle and supplies forced outside fresh air in once the
interior temperature exceeds 38 degrees Celsius. The marketing approach of this product was
aimed at reducing workloads on vehicle air conditioners and minimizing heat damage to interior
components rather than tenability for forgotten occupants (Financial Times, 2003). Various other
types of folding window shades were found throughout a widespread internet search with no
products advising safe conditions for children, these products only reduced interior temperatures to
minimize UV damage to dashboards and upholstery.
There were, however, several products identified in the marketplace that aim to reduce the
likelihood of forgetting your children in the car. The organization Kids And Cars has developed a
keychain attachment of childrens rattle toys to remind parents or caregivers of the presence of the
baby in the car (Kids and Cars, 2006). Kids And Cars is also working in conjunction with the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to develop a car seat alarm which
activates when the vehicle is shut off and an occupant remains in a car seat more than a few
seconds. The device is called a Child Presence Sensor and NASA is looking for a corporate
partner to further develop and market the product for widespread use (NASA, 2002). Finally, GM
is developing an alarm system that will respond to the movement of a small child down to the
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Children In Vehicles 19
Upon returning home to Fort Worth, Texas, this researcher continued my research at the
Fort Worth and Hurst, Texas Public Libraries utilizing the same keywords. No books were
identified with any information related to this topic, however, there were numerous internet
resources which were identified and reviewed extensively. These resources provided the basis for
the Literature Review of this research effort. As this researcher matched sources to research
questions a pattern was determined. This pattern showed that there were no products which
claimed to reduce interior vehicles satisfactorily enough for children to remain in the vehicles, and
without these products, there would be no way to assess their viability or find past research which
supported or condemned the claims of the products.
The next step in the research process was to develop a survey for submission throughout
the United States to determine the frequency of occurrence for these types of events within other
jurisdictions. Secondly, the survey would provide information on the types of awareness programs
being conducted throughout the country and the percentage of survey respondents who have
awareness programs in place. The third component of the survey would identify injury and death
statistics related to children left in vehicles for the survey group independent of national statistics
identified previously in this research. According to Krejcie & Morgan (1970), a minimum of 379
respondents would be needed to provide a 95 percent confidence in the survey results.
Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of this researcher, only 137 surveys were returned. Multiple
surveys from the same fire department were confirmed for duplicity and disregarded; however, the
survey respondents provided feedback from a cross section of the country based on location,
climate, and population density. The respondents came from a total of 21 states and one additional
country. A copy of the survey is available in Appendix A and a list of all respondent departments
is available in Appendix B. As conducted in previous surveys, this researcher supplied the survey
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Children In Vehicles 20
request to the various Fire Chiefs Associations across the country and politely requested they
disburse them throughout their email trees to multiply the potential for response above other likely
means.
The third step in this research process was to conduct field experiments related to the topic
of determining rate of temperature rise in varying conditions, ambient temperatures, and types of
vehicles. This portion of the research was conducted in the following manner:
1) Identify dates for conducting the experiment and a set time frame each day to
maintain consistency. All experiments were conducted from 9:00 a.m. until
10:00 a.m. each date. The experiments were conducted starting on August 2
nd
and concluding on August 9th . August is typically the hottest month of the year
in Texas and would provide the most extreme temperature conditions for
consideration of effects on human beings.
2) Measure temperature changes each time utilizing the same machine and verifying
calibration prior to the start of the experiment. During this experiment, the
researcher utilized a Raynger heat sensing device carried on all fire apparatus
within the Colleyville Fire Department. The calibration was verified prior to
each experiment utilizing the manufacturers guidelines for calibration.
3) Identify benchmark times in advance and utilize the same benchmarks for each
experiment. Based on the findings of sources identified within the Literature
Review, the benchmark times established for this volley of experiments was 10
minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 40 minutes, and one hour.
4) Measure benchmark temperatures in the same manner and location of the vehicle
each time to ensure consistency. The temperature was measured for ten seconds
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Children In Vehicles 21
each time it was taken and the seat cushion of the backseat in the middle of the
seat was utilized each time. The temperature measurements were done in both
direct and indirect sunlight to analyze certain aspects of Literature Review
research which suggested differentiation based on this component. The windows
of the vehicle were left down for 30 minutes prior to the start of the experiment
to allow the interior of the vehicle to equalize with the ambient outside
temperature.
5) Identify the list of variables to be tested and proceed through each one utilizing
the process described. For this experiment, the variables utilized were the
following:
a. Direct and indirect sunlight.
b. Parking the vehicle in the shade versus full sun.
c. Windows completely sealed versus windows cracked 1.5 inches.
d. Light interior cloth versus dark interior cloth.
e. Folding window shade versus exposed front windshield.
f. Light vehicle color versus dark vehicle color.
The results of the experiment will be discussed later in this research. The individual findings, as
well as a blank experiment documentation sheet are available in Appendix C.
The final component of this research was to develop a program to raise awareness in Colleyville,
Texas on the dangers of leaving children in unattended vehicles in hopes of avoiding the injury or
death of a child within our community of responsibility. This program is a compilation of facts
from the research reviewed and conducted and will be available in both English and Spanish. The
components of the program are as follows:
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Children In Vehicles 22
Bilingual fact sheet on the dangers of leaving children and suggestions for avoiding
its occurrence.
Bumper stickers and window clings to be disbursed throughout the schools and
daycare facilities of Colleyville, Texas.
Reminder key chains to lessen the likelihood of forgetting the little ones. The goal
being to provide one to every parent in Colleyville.
Slide presentation to all daycare workers, school teachers, and as many parents as
possible to ensure widespread coverage.
Possible future digital and video components to spread the information on an even
more broad scale.
At the time of this writing, all components except for the digital and video portions have been
developed. This researcher is in negotiations with local community groups to assist with funding
and further development of this program.
Limitations:
The procedures used in this research were met by several limitations throughout the
process. The first limitation is the relatively new nature of the topic in that statistics have only
been being gathered for less than ten years. Secondly, products capable of reducing interior
temperatures into a safe range for children have yet to be adequately developed despite the
seriousness of the issue. Without products that change interior temperatures, there is no way to
evaluate their effectiveness in doing so. Finally, despite the repeat efforts of this researcher, there
was not an adequate enough response to the survey to ensure 95 percent confidence in the findings,
even though the results provide some insight into the significance of the problem nationwide.
Definition of Terms:
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Heat Sensor device which sends out a laser guided signal to measure the temperature of the
object on which the laser is aimed. This device is utilized frequently in the fire service for
determining hot points within fire buildings.
Results
The initial research question addressed the comparison of Colleyville, Texas to other
communities with regard to the frequency of occurrence of children being left or locked in
unattended vehicles. A search of Departmental records found that 51 incidents of this type had
occurred between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2005 (Dept. Report, 2006). Of these 51
incidents, only two resulted in injury to the occupants of the vehicle. In addition, the Colleyville
Fire Department has no current program in place to heighten awareness for this type of incident.
When all results from the nationwide survey were completed, a total of 137 surveys were returned.
Duplicate department returns were checked for continuity and disregarded if the data was the same.
The survey was comprised of eight questions. The only identifying questions within the
survey were questions one and two which asked for the name of the Department and the State
where the Department was located. The results of the survey are as follows on the next page
:Question 3: Size of Population?
Size of Population
Data Type 500K Total
# of Respondents 31 64 18 15 5 133
Percentage 23% 48% 14% 11% 4% 100%
The CFD falls into the category of 10K-50K in population. The 48% of the results
received in the survey came from communities of similar size to Colleyville. 85% of survey
respondents came from communities with populations of less than 100,000. Only 15% of the
results were derived from large, urban communities.
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Children In Vehicles 24
Question 4: In the period of 2001 2005, did your Department have any responses involving
children left or locked in vehicles which were not running?
Responses to Kids in Vehicles
Data Type Yes No Total
# of Respondents 54 79 133
Percentage 41% 59% 100%
As stated previously, the CFD has had responses of this nature thus prompting the research
to be conducted. The survey results indicate that less than 50% of the survey respondent
Departments has answered similar responses in the last five years.
Question 5: If you answered yes, please complete the table below:
Total Responses of All Survey Respondents
Year 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Total
Responses 490 987 937 955 838 4,207
Injuries 7 9 11 16 24 67
Deaths 0 0 0 0 2 2
The total response during the period of 2001 2005 for the CFD was 51. Of these, two
incidents resulted in injuries and no deaths were reported. From the results reported we can
surmise that roughly one in every sixty-two incidents reported on this survey resulted in an injury
and unfortunately, two children lost their lives as a result of being left unattended in vehicles.
Question 6: What type of injury was most prevalent among reported injuries?
Most Prevalent Injuries
Type of Injury Hyperthermia Dehydration Trauma Other
# of Respondents 15 14 0 10
Percentage 38% 37% 0% 25%
In the two injuries reported in Colleyville, Texas, the injuries were both related to
hyperthermia and dehydration. The survey results indicate that an almost equal percentage of
respondents reporting injuries saw injuries in those same two areas. No reports of trauma were
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Children In Vehicles 25
noted and the ten other responses were delineated as two reports of cardiac arrest and eight
reports of unconsciousness upon arrival of first responders.
Question 7: Was outside temperature a factor in the cause of the injuries?
Outside Temperature A Factor
Data Type Yes No
# of Respondents 27 12
Percentage 69% 31%
Of the respondents reporting injuries, more than two-thirds considered outside temperature to be a
factor. In Colleyville, outside temperature, as well as being in the garage were factors in both
reported injuries. However, almost one-third of respondents reporting injury did not see outside
temperature as being a factor in the cause of injury.
Question 8: Does your Department have an awareness program for the community related to this
topic?
As mentioned before, the Colleyville Fire Department does not have a program in place that
addresses this issue. The results of the survey show that 95% of respondent Departments do not
have a program of this type in place either. Only six communities of those who responded to the
survey report having a program in place. Of these six programs, all were based on hand-out
materials and presentations among community groups in an effort to spread the word on this silent
killer of small children.
The ultimate goal of this research was to provide insight and ideas to this researcher in
preparation for developing an effective program in Colleyville, Texas that will reduce the
incidence of this type of emergency and provide awareness to the immediate community and
potentially others as well. Utilizing the results of this research and the ideas discovered during the
Awareness Program
Data Type Yes No
# of Respondents 6 125
Percentage 5% 95%
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Literature Review process, this researcher has developed the following program components to
help spread the word and increase awareness in the community. This program is a
compilation of facts from the research reviewed and conducted and will be available in both
English and Spanish. The components of the program are as follows:
Bilingual fact sheet on the dangers of leaving children and suggestions for avoiding
its occurrence.
Bumper stickers and window clings to be disbursed throughout the schools and
daycare facilities of Colleyville, Texas.
Reminder key chains to lessen the likelihood of forgetting the little ones. The goal
being to provide one to every parent in Colleyville.
Slide presentation to all daycare workers, school teachers, and as many parents as
possible to ensure widespread coverage.
Possible future digital and video components to spread the information on an even
more broad scale.
Program component copies are available in the Appendix E of this research document.
The second component of this action research was conducting live experiments utilizing
available vehicles and weather conditions applicable to Colleyville, Texas. The experiments were
carried out over eight consecutive days between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.. The experiments were
done using various options that were considered by this researcher to be possible variables to
temperature tolerance. The results of the experiments are presented below and the findings of the
experiments will be summarized following the table.
Time 2002 Ford Expedition
Red in Color, Light Grey Interior
Full Sun Full Sun Shade Shade
Windows Closed Windows Cracked Windows Closed Windows Cracked
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Exposed Windshield Windshield Shade Exposed Windshield Windshield Shade
9:00 91 - 93 90 - 92 90 - 93 91 - 91
9:10 91 - 106 90 - 104 90 - 101 91 - 99
9:20 91 - 121 91 - 114 90 - 112 91 - 106
9:30 91 - 127 91 - 123 90 - 119 92 - 1149:40 92 - 133 91 - 128 90 - 123 92 - 119
10:00 92 - 139 91 - 134 90 - 129 92 - 126Figure 2: Ford Expedition Experiment Results.
Time
2006 Chevrolet Pick-Up
Burgundy in Color, Black Interior
Full Sun Full Sun Shade Shade
Windows Closed Windows Cracked Windows Closed Windows Cracked
Exposed Windshield Windshield Shade Exposed Windshield Windshield Shade
9:00 91 - 92 91 - 93 90 - 92 91 - 91
9:10 91 - 105 91 - 103 90 - 99 91 - 97
9:20 92 - 120 91 - 112 91 - 110 91 - 104
9:30 92 - 127 92 - 119 91 - 116 91 - 111
9:40 92 - 135 92 - 125 91 - 121 91 - 117
10:00 93 - 140 92 - 131 91 - 128 91 - 123Figure 3: Chevrolet Pick-Up Experiment Results.
Ambient temperatures were in the range of 90 to 93 degrees Fahrenheit each day and the
windows to the vehicle were rolled down and left down for 30 minutes prior to the start of the
experiment to get the vehicle interior as close to the ambient air temperature as possible. The two
vehicles used provided for one vehicle with light colored interior and one vehicle with dark
colored interior. All other experiments were conducted the exact same way on both vehicles
providing the yielded results seen in Figure 2 and Figure 3. The other variables measured were
closed versus cracked windows which were lowered 1 . Full sun versus parking in a shaded
area was measured. Lastly, the differentiation between an open front windshield and one blocked
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with a folding sun shade was assessed. Further critique and discussion of the results of the
experiment will be provided in the next section of the research.
Discussion
At the conclusion of the literature review related to this topic, the independent nationwide
survey, and the on site experiments conducted on the topic, awareness on the dangers of leaving
children in vehicles unattended is poor at best. Furthermore, fire departments across this nation are
doing little as a whole to change this fact. The CDC (2002) identified excessive heat exposure as
the leading cause of death among children left in motor vehicles unattended. Experimentation by
this researcher concluded that there is no effective way to reduce interior temperatures to safe
levels for occupation by small children with the vehicle not running. No products were found that
were aimed at reducing internal vehicle temperatures to safe ranges for leaving children in the car,
nor should there likely be such devices designed and marketed. Products are under development to
reduce the likelihood of forgetting children, and legislation is being pressed significantly across the
nation to limit the occurrence of this tragedy and make those who do so suffer accordingly for their
errors in judgment or memory. Despite these efforts, not enough is being done, because children
are still dying in this manner every year.
Awareness of this growing epidemic of poor judgment is lacking significantly. If there is to
be a change in the frequency of occurrence something has to be done to heighten awareness.
According to Kids And Cars (2005), data collection on this topic only began in 1990 and even now
the data collection is voluntary and mostly collected through nationwide media searches. There is
no federal identifier given to these types of incidents when collecting injury statistics (Kids And
Cars, 2005). Kids And Cars also has brochures, window clings, and other informational tools, as
well as reminder items available to the public, yet until conducting this research, this researcher
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had never even heard of the organization in my 16 plus years of public safety service. Null (2006)
acknowledged Kids And Cars as the nationwide leader in this type of data collection, yet it is not
enough if the organization is not known to those who can help make a difference such as fire
departments, which focus a large portion of their efforts on prevention and awareness.
According to TDFPS (2006), Texas led the nation in fatalities from children being left or
locked in unattended vehicles in 2003. This state agency recognized the need for a program and
developed the Look Before You Leave program to raise awareness. Until this researcher began
this project and researched current programs, there was no knowledge of this program. Here are
two programs, one on a national level and one on a state level, which this researcher, who has been
in public safety for more than sixteen years had no prior knowledge of these programs before
conducting this research.
Following the results of the nationwide survey, 95% of respondents to the survey admitted
to no type of awareness program for this topic in their organizations. Only six organizations had
programs in place to address this problem. This is a truly staggering statistic. If the results of this
survey were extrapolated out over all of the fire departments in the United States, and the
percentages of the survey did not change, less than of one percent of fire departments in this
nation would be addressing this problem in some manner. Only 147 fire departments of the more
than 30, 572 current agencies would be doing anything to keep these statistics from growing in
their own communities.
Only 41% of survey respondents reported responding to emergencies of this type. Could
lack of response and complacency on the part of fire and EMS agencies be contributing to the lack
of awareness effort? Based on this researchers experience and history within the fire department
that workloads and span of capabilities in most fire agencies requires focus on the most likely
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problems in the community leading to exclusion of potential problems such as the topic discussed
in this research. Lack of response should not deter efforts to raise awareness. This emergency can
occur in any environment and it does not necessarily have to be excessively hot outside for
injury or death to occur (Kids And Cars, 2005). However, 69% of survey respondents did report
that outside temperature was a factor in the injuries to which they responded.
According to a Las Vegas Sun Editorial (2005, October 5), the Las Vegas, Clark County,
and North Las Vegas Fire Departments had responded to more than 2,100 incidents between
January 2002 and October 2005 to assist children left or locked inside unattended vehicles.
Several of these incidents resulted in fatalities, yet nowhere in the editorial did it mention any
programs being used to thwart the growing epidemic in their area. Additional research did not
identify any programs being used in the area either.
Guard & Gallagher (2005) confirmed this researchers suspicions that this problem was
not limited to the United States alone. Indeed, their research showed that this same type of event
with the outcome being that of a fatality investigation had occurred 16 times across six other
countries during their study period of 1995 - 2002. Despite my efforts, this researcher was unable
to find any sources or information on awareness programs being done to address this issue in the
countries identified by their study.
One of the goals of this research was to identify products which reduce interior vehicle
temperatures to acceptable levels for safe habitation by human beings. This research question
proved to be one in which there were no supporting products even in development. Despite this
researchers disappointment at not being able to find research material related to this question, I
now realize the foolishness of developing such products. These products would encourage parents
that it is alright to leave their children in the vehicle alone. If this type of behavior is rejected and
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not condoned, there will eventually be a reduction and let us all hope that someday and elimination
of this tragedy.
Several products were identified by this researcher, which are under development for
alarming parents to forgetting the children, or reminding them in more subtle ways to check the
backseat. NASA (2002) and GM (2005) both reported on development of alarm features to
address this problem. The NASA alarm is engineered for attachment within the childs safety seat,
and the GM product is geared at alarming parents if they exit the vehicle and move too far away in
the seconds following exit. Despite the efforts of these two agencies, neither product is available
as of this writing.
Kids And Cars (2005) created a keychain attachment which looks like a set of baby rattles
to remind parents of the presence of little ones in the vehicle. LAFD (2006) in its bulleted list of
suggestions to prevent leaving your kids suggested keeping a large teddy bear in the car seat and
placing in the front seat when the child is in the vehicle to remind of their presence. All of these
tools are aimed at reducing the incidence of this emergency, but only work if they are implemented
by the end-users.
The final component of change in reducing these emergencies is the incorporation of state laws
to punish those who do so despite what is expected of them. According to the Chicago Sun Times
(September 23, 2004), fewer than 25% of states had legislation making it a crime to leave a child
unattended in a vehicle. In an article found in the Child Protection Law Report(August 12, 2004)
only nine states across the United States had enacted legislation to help prevent these incidents
from happening. As of November 2006, 11 states have legislation in place related to leaving
children in unattended vehicles and 15 states are currently considering proposed legislation on the
subject (Kids And Cars, 2006).
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Even though this is great progress, these statistics report that just more than half of the
states in the United States are addressing this issue at the legal level. According to Guard &
Gallagher (2005), during their study period deaths from being left in unattended vehicles occurred
in 41 out of 50 states in the U.S. At the very least, why wouldnt all of these states address the
problem at the legal level? If this did occur, more than 80% of states would have laws against this
type of behavior.
The final component of this research effort was to identify factors which affect the rate of
temperature rise in vehicles. According (McLaren, Null, & Quinn, 2005) and Null (2006) both
reported temperature increases within a vehicle of 19 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit in a period from ten
minutes to one hour without the vehicle running. Experiments conducted by this researcher concur
with these results. Experiment results showed temperature increases ranging from six degrees
Fahrenheit after ten minutes to 48 degrees Fahrenheit after one hour.
However, this researchers experiments also showed that use of a folding window shade in
conjunction with parking in the shade and cracking windows 1 reduced the one hour
temperature increase to 32 degrees Fahrenheit. This 32 degree increase in temperature still
resulted in an interior temperature of 123 degrees Fahrenheit, which is still extremely dangerous
for any human being especially children. This finding also concurs with Faughn (2005) which
suggests that use of folding window shades does not make a vehicle tenable for small children.
According to (McLaren, Null, & Quinn, 2005), leaving the windows cracked had little
effect on interior temperatures, however, this researchers experiments showed a temperature
reduction range of five degrees Fahrenheit while parked in the shade, and nine degrees Fahrenheit
while parked in direct sunlight. Regardless of variance, the final result of on site experiments and
those conducted by sources within the Literature Review revealed a common thread in that
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vehicles regardless of type, color, interior, or other cooling factors are no place to leave children
unattended.
Recommendations
At the conclusion of this research project, examination of the literature review, results of a
nationwide survey, and results of independent experiments conducted by this researcher have made
it quite evident that the following steps need to be taken within the CFD to move forward with the
program developed as part of this research are:
Obtain the full support of the Colleyville Fire Department Administration and City
Management to proceed with the implementation of this program across the City
and potentially the area.
Incorporate this prevention program as a component of the Departments overall
community risk reduction efforts and create buy-in from the Operations
personnel as to the validity and necessity of the program.
Establish a financial backing for the program through utilization of community
stakeholders such as:
o The Lions Club
o Rotary Club
o Colleyville Womens Club
o Colleyville Chamber of Commerce
Monitor the progress of the program by continuing to collect statistical data
checking for reductions or increases in this type of emergency.
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As a result of the research, this researcher believes that changes in the Fire Service need to occur
such as:
More involvement on the part of the American Fire Service in injury prevention
efforts specific to this topic. Just because your community is not responding to
hundreds of these calls a year, does not make the situation any less important in the
protection of our smallest treasures.
Better record-keeping for statistical tracking of trends or changes needed in the
program.
Continue to pressure automakers to install safety systems specific to this topic with
a goal of eliminating children left in vehicles altogether.
Heavy utilization of the media to bring more attention on the gravity of this matter.
If we can all work together to make these changes, I believe the following outcomes are possible:
Eventual elimination of the problem.
Significant reduction in the number of incidents each year involving children left in
vehicles.
Parents who are more aware of where their children are at all times.
An involved Fire Service committed to reducing the frequency of this problem.
These changes will take time and commitment on the part of everyone involved. Without
commitment and follow-up, this program will fail before it gets started. The goal of this researcher
is to continue to monitor the program as it spreads with the following commitments:
Quarterly statistical assessment of incident occurrence.
Semi-annual outreach statistics for gauging the programs spread through the
community and abroad.
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Annual assessment of handouts and presentation materials with augmentation of
new ideas, stats, etc. as they become available.
For any other researcher wishing to explore this topic more deeply, this researcher would
recommend the following considerations as you prepare for your journey:
Do not be surprised by the lack of information specific to this topic that is available.
Utilization of the various State Fire Chiefs Associations seem to be fairly effective
in getting the survey out to a broad spectrum of departments and communities.
Plan to search much deeper than the LRC at the NFA will allow. The relative
newness of this topic makes it difficult to gather very much information from
sources other than the internet.
Get involved. If you see a child in a vehicle, dont ignore it, or assume that
someone else will do it, fix the problem before the problem grows and someone is
hurt or killed.
Utilize the temperature experiments to determine the temperature ranges specific to
your community. The resource experiment was conducted in California. The
variation to my experiment in Texas was minimal, but there was variation.
Be thorough as the research you conduct will likely be shedding needed insight
onto a topic of great importance.
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Reference List
4 R Kids Sake (2006). Kaitlyns Law. Retrieved July 12, 2006 from
http://www.4rkidssake.org/Kaitlynslaw.html
Center for Disease Control: MMWR Weekly (2002). Injuries and Deaths Among Children Left
Unattended in or Around Motor Vehicles---United States, July 2000-June 2001. Retrieved
July 12, 2006 fromhttp://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrrhtml/mm512a3.htm.
Colleyville Fire Department (2006). Retrieved from departmental records database. Accessible by
public record request, (817) 488-6277.
Escondido, California Fire Department (2006). Incidents Involving Children Locked in Vehicles.
Retrieved via email request: www.ci.escondido.ca.us/fire.
Gallagher, S.S. & Guard, A (2005). Heat related deaths to young children in parked cars: an
analysis of 171 fatalities in the United States, 1995-2002. Injury Prevention, 11, 33-37.
Kids And Cars (2005) (2006). Kids And Cars National Database 1990-Present. Retrieved July 12,
2006 from http://www.kidsandcars.org.
Koch, E. (2005, October 4). Deadly lapse of memory. Las Vegas Sun, Retrieved July 24, 2006
from http://www.lasvegassun.com/editorial.
Krejcie, R.V. & Morgan D. W. Determining sample size for research activities. Educational
Psychological Measurement, 1970, 30, 607-610.
LAFD News and Information: Children, Hot Weather, & Cars = Danger! (2006). Retrieved July
24, 2006 from http://lafd.blogspot.com/2006/07/children-hot-weather-cars-danger.html.
Mahmod, C.T.H. (2003). Brunei: Less heat in cars with E-Vent. Financial Times. 12.16 (October
4, 2003).
http://www.4rkidssake.org/Kaitlynslaw.htmlhttp://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrrhtml/mm512a3.htmhttp://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrrhtml/mm512a3.htmhttp://www.ci.escondido.ca.us/firehttp://www.kidsandcars.org/http://www.lasvegassun.com/editorialhttp://lafd.blogspot.com/2006/07/children-hot-weather-cars-danger.htmlhttp://www.4rkidssake.org/Kaitlynslaw.htmlhttp://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrrhtml/mm512a3.htmhttp://www.ci.escondido.ca.us/firehttp://www.kidsandcars.org/http://www.lasvegassun.com/editorialhttp://lafd.blogspot.com/2006/07/children-hot-weather-cars-danger.html7/31/2019 Efo Lcrr Arp
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McLaren, C. & Null, J. & Quinn, J. (2005). Heat stress from enclosed vehicles: moderate ambient
temperatures cause significant temperature rise in enclosed vehicles. Pediatrics, 116.1
(July 2005).
New law may help raise awareness of the danger of leaving children unattended.
(2005, October 5). The Las Vegas Sun, Editorial: Holding adults accountable.
New Research Shows Humidity Increases the Danger of Hot, Parked Vehicles to Young Children.
Retrieved November 28, 2006 from http://www.gmability.com/safekids/.
News Release NASA develops child car-seat safety device: Feb. 5, 2002. Langley Research
Center: Hampton, Virginia: National Aeronautics & Space Administration.
Null, J. (2006). Hyperthermia Deaths of Children in Vehicles. Retrieved July 12, 2006, from
http://ggweather.com/heat/
Othon, N.L. (2006). Students aim to save babies FAU Animators creating film to stop neglect.
South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Local Section, 3B.
Texas Department of Family Protective Services (2006). Look Before You Leave Campaign
Talking Points. Retrieved July 24, 2006 from
http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/lookbeforeyouleave.HotCarsTalkingPoints.asp .
UMHS Press Release: Kids in Cars. (2003). Retrieved July 12, 2006 from
http://www.med.umich.edu/opm/newspage/2003/kidsincar.htm.
We all have a role in child safety//A way to ensure the safety of our children is to make it a crime
to leave children unattended in vehicles. (2004, September 23). Chicago Sun Times,
Editorial. p. 38.
Young children left alone in cars: an undiscovered form of abuse? (child abuse). Child
Protection Law Report30.16 (August 12, 2004): 125.
http://www.gmability.com/safekids/http://ggweather.com/heat/http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/lookbeforeyouleave.HotCarsTalkingPoints.asphttp://www.med.umich.edu/opm/newspage/2003/kidsincar.htmhttp://www.med.umich.edu/opm/newspage/2003/kidsincar.htmhttp://www.gmability.com/safekids/http://ggweather.com/heat/http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/lookbeforeyouleave.HotCarsTalkingPoints.asphttp://www.med.umich.edu/opm/newspage/2003/kidsincar.htm7/31/2019 Efo Lcrr Arp
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Appendix A
Survey Document
National Fire Academy
Executive Fire Officer Program
My name is Russell Shelley and I am a Battalion Chief with the Colleyville, Texas Fire
Department. I am currently enrolled in the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire
Academy. I am doing my research project on developing a program to raise awareness for children
left in unattended vehicles. Your completion of this survey is greatly appreciated.
1. Department Name:
2. State:
3. Size of Population: 500K
4. In the period of 2001 2005, has your Department had any responses involving
children left or locked inside vehicles which were not running? Yes No
5. If you answered yes, please fill in the table below:
Year 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Responses Injuries Deaths
6. What type of injury was most prevalent among these incidents?
Hyperthermia Dehydration Trauma Other:
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7. Was outside temperature a factor in the cause of the injuries?
Yes No
8. Does your Department have an awareness program for the community related to this
issue?
Yes No
If yes, please provide a description of the program or a copy of the program if possible.
Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. A copy of the results will be available by
email upon completion of the project. Please copy and paste the completed survey into a new
email and return to [email protected]. You may also return the surveys by fax to (817)
488-2943 attention Russell Shelley. Thank you again for your assistance with this project.
Appendix B
Departments Participating in Survey
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Little Rock AR Centerville MA
Sonoma Valley CA Salem MA
Carlsbad CA Chelmsford MA
La Habra Heights CA Sandwich MA
Sonoma County CA Ashburnham MA
Sebastopol CA Roseville MN
Woodside FPD CA Cottage Grove MNRichmond CA Stillwater MN
Lompoc CA Fridley MN
Garden Valley FPD CA Eden Prairie MN
Manteca CA Maplewood MN
San Marcos CA Willmar MN
Kenwood CA St. Louis Park MN
Orange County CA Bad Rock MT
San Manuel CA Park County FPD 1 MT
Escondido CA Derry NH
WSI/JPLFD CA Morris NJ
Alhambra CA Hamilton Twnshp NJ
Rio Vista CA Kearny NJ
Los Angeles CA Burlington NJ
Orlando FL Mosquero NM
Forest Park GA Tome-Adelino NM
Rockdale County GA Los Alamos NM
Lumpkin County GA Rio Rancho NM
Gordon County GA New Zealand Fire Service NZ
Aberdeen/Springfield ID Lumberton NC
Jerome City ID Lexington NC
Couer D Alene ID Pendleton OR
Twin Falls ID McMinnville OR
Pocatello ID Astoria OR
Idaho Nat'l Laboratory ID Keizer ORFrankfort Fire Dist. IL Hillsboro OR
Lake Zurich IL Forest Grove OR
Algonquin IL Jackson County Dist 5 OR
Park Ridge IL Lowell Rural FPD OR
Naperville IL Scio Rural FPD OR
Barrington IL Medford OR
Evanston IL Klamath County Dist. 1 OR
Montrose IL Sheridan OR
Elgin IL Sisters-Camp Sherman OR
Lisle Woodridge IL Lake Oswego OR
Mazon IL Bend OR
Johnson County KS Hermiston OR
St. George LA Idanha-Detroit OR
Zachary LA Scappoose OR
Turner's Falls MA Portland OR
Springfield MA Junction City OR
Uxbridge MA Roseburg TN
Cotuit MA Brentwood TN
Roanoke TX
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Southlake TX
Lewisville TX
Trophy Club TX
Roy City UT
Woodinville WA
Vancouver WA
Friday Harbor WAOlympia WA
Lynnwood WA
Pasco WA
Yakima County Dist. 5 WA
Grant County Dist 13 WA
Clark County Dist. 11 WA
Okanogan WA
San Juan Island WA
Kent WA
Lake Stevens WA
Redmond WA
Tukwila WA
Richland WA
Longview WA
Cottage Grove WI
Mukwonago WI
Two Rivers WI
Waukesha WI
Menomonee Falls WI
Caledonia WI
West Bend WI
Green Bay WI
Black River Falls WI
Kenosha WI
Watertown WI
Appendix C
Experiment Documentation Form
Rate of Temperature Rise in Vehicles
Experiment Documentation Form
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Date of Experiment: ___________ Location of Experiment: ___________________________
Data Recorder: _________________________________________________________________
Vehicle Description:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Special Circumstances or Equipment:
_______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Time Ambient Temperature Interior Temperature
9:00
9:10
9:20
9:30
9:40
10:00
I certify that the data collected here is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and ability.
__________________________________________
Signature of Data Recorder
Appendix D
Completed Experiment Documentation Forms
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Appendix E
Awareness Program Components
Post Card Handout
Safety Sam Mascot
SAFETY SAM
SAYS...
STOP...LOOK...LOOK...THEN LOCK
DONT FORGET
THE KIDS!!!!
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STOPLOOKLOOK
THEN LOCK
DONT FORGET THE KIDS!!!
Each year, hundreds of children across this country die as a result of being
left or locked in an unattended vehicle.
Never leave the kids in the car unattended forany reason!
Window shades and leaving windows cracked do not make it safe to leave
the kids.
Be especially aware if you have infants who are likely to be sleeping when
you reach your destination.
Place a reminder in the front seat with you when your child is in the car seat
such as a teddy bear, baby doll, or a diaper bag.
Use a keychain reminder device on your key ring.
Consider adding a reminder decal to your rear view mirror.
STOP, LOOK, Then LOCK Dont Forget The Kids!!
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Keychain & Bumper Sticker Design