KidsAndCars.org

Twittercue: National #Heatstroke Prevention & Awareness Day, July 31, https://www.facebook.com/KidsAndCars.org 

 

NEWS RELEASE

 

KidsAndCars.org 
2208 S. Halleys Court, Olathe, KS 66062
Office: 913-732-2792, www.KidsAndCars.org

 

Contacts:

Amber Rollins, 913-732-2792, cell 913-205-6973, or Amber@KidsAndCars.org

Janette Fennell, 484-278-4641, cell 415-336-9279, or Janette@KidsAndCars.org 

Parents send letter to NHTSA Administrator calling for ACTION on the Eve of National Heat Stroke Prevention and Awareness Day

Parents cry out for proactive solutions as deaths continue to mount every summer

July 30, 2015 - Already this year eleven U.S. children have died from heatstroke inside vehicles. Parents from Florida to California are calling for action to finally end these needless deaths. On the eve of National Heatstroke Prevention and Awareness Day, a letter written by grieving parents hopes to convince the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA), Administrator Mark Rosekind that the agency cannot continue to procrastinate when it comes to the safety of our children.

 

We can no longer accept this unnecessary emotional and economic toll on our families. Common sense solutions are available and need to be brought to the market. "We have worked tirelessly to ensure other families don't have to experience my pain and loss after the death of my daughter. Frankly, I have never felt more abandoned by our political leaders than I do right now," says Deona Ryan-Bien, nurse, safety advocate and mother of Aslyn Ryan.

 

It has been three-years since MAP-21 was enacted with a provision authorizing NHTSA to find technical solutions to the issue of children being left behind in vehicles. Unfortunately, we have not seen evidence that anything has been done to fulfill this statutory provision and prevent these tragedies.  

 

"During that period of time, we lost our beautiful little boy, Ben. I can't help but imagine that he would still be alive today if the Department of Transportation (DOT) had sprung into action when they first learned about this risk over a decade ago," said Lindsey Rogers -Seitz, Esq., safety advocate and mother of Benjamin Seitz.

 

Parents ended their letter on a strong note. "This will never bring our children back, but we are committed to helping keep other families complete so they do not have to live with the grief and guilt our families deal with on a daily basis." (Full text of letter below)

 

At the same time KidsAndCars.org and their safety partners will post facts and prevention tips about how child vehicular heatstroke can be prevented throughout the day. They are calling on the public and media outlets to join in to support this national effort. Facebook and Twitter users can find photos and posts to share at the KidsAndCars.org Facebook page. (https://www.facebook.com/KidsAndCars.org)

 

Examples of posts that will be shared include:

  • 37 children die of #heatstroke in cars every year. Check backseat, create reminders! #LookBeforeYouLock  #KidsAndCars
  • Sign-up for #KidsAndCars newsletter by 7/31 to win a new ADVANCED SensorSafe™ EMBRACE™ DXL car seat by Evenflo (http://bit.ly/1LXPvqF), the 1st car seat with a built in reminder system so children will not be left in vehicles.
  • Be prepared to rescue a child in a hot car with a resqme™ tool*, http://bit.ly/15NMOWj  #heatstroke #kidsandcars
  • Can't find your child? Check your car & trunk IMMEDIATELY, prevent #heatstroke, always keep cars locked! #KidsAndCars  

In addition to their social media campaign, KidsAndCars.org is giving away three brand new ADVANCED SensorSafe™ EMBRACE™ DXL car seats by Evenflo to email newsletter subscribers in a drawing. Citizens can sign up for the newsletter (http://tinyurl.com/kacnewsletter) for their chance to win.

 

"The worst thing any parent or caregiver can do is think that they could never unknowingly leave a child behind in a vehicle," says Janette Fennell, founder and president of KidsAndCars.org, the only national nonprofit child safety organization working solely to prevent injuries and deaths of children in and around vehicles. "Even the most loving, responsible and attentive parents can unknowingly leave a child in a vehicle. No one is immune," she added.

 

Since KidsAndCars.org began tracking data, over 750 children have died from heatstroke inside vehicles. An average of 37 children die every year from vehicular heatstroke (one every 10 days).    

 

 

Safety Tips from KidsAndCars.org  

 

'Look Before You Lock' safety information cards

 

For additional information, statistics and charts specific to child vehicular heat stroke visit http://www.kidsandcars.org/heatstroke.html.

 

 

*A small window breaker and seat belt cutter, the resqme™ emergency escape tool is a valuable resource for these types of emergencies.  Every driver should have one. The resqme™ tool hooks right on your keychain.   KidsAndCars.org makes them available for a small donation. (http://bit.ly/15NMOWj

 

###

About KidsAndCars.org:  Founded in 1996, KidsAndCars.org is the only national nonprofit child safety organization dedicated solely to preventing injuries and deaths of children in and around vehicles. KidAndCars.org promotes awareness among parents, caregivers and the general public about the dangers to children, including backover and frontover incidents, and heat stroke from being unknowingly left in a vehicle. The organization works to prevent tragedies through data collection, education and public awareness, policy change and survivor advocacy.


 

Letter from grieving parents sent to Administrator Rosekind on 7-30-2015:


 

Administrator Mark Rosekind:


 

Tomorrow is National Heatstroke Prevention and Awareness Day, which serves as a reminder of the devastating loss we endure every day; but we also want it to be a day that you issue a call to action to stop, once and for all, these needless deaths.  It is at this time of year we collectively remember all the extremely young lives that have been taken from us and wonder why it continues to happen when there are solutions available.  It is for this reason that we are contacting you to express our disappointment that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) hasn't made this an urgent priority by aggressively moving to issue a vehicle safety standard to prevent this needless loss of life.  Education campaigns are beneficial, but achieving zero deaths of children left in hot cars requires a technological solution. 


 

It has been three-years since MAP-21 was enacted with a provision authorizing NHTSA to find technical solutions to the issue of children being left behind in vehicles.  Unfortunately, we have not seen evidence that anything has been done to fulfill this statutory provision and prevent these tragedies.  

  • We know that when the agency takes regulatory action, lives can be saved. It took a NHTSA regulation to prevent children from becoming entrapped and dying in hot car trunks. Today, there is NOT ONE documented death of a person in a car trunk that contains the inexpensive glow-in-the-dark internal trunk release required in all new cars since 2002.
  • It took a NHTSA regulation to issue a rear visibility standard so children can be seen behind vehicles because rear view cameras will be standard equipment on all new cars by May 2018.
  • It took a NHTSA regulation issued in 2004 to make power window switches that are safer for children.
  • It took a NHTSA regulation to add latches in the rear seat of all passenger cars to ensure child safety seats were properly installed and could protect small children.

We firmly believe that it is going to take a regulation to end these senseless deaths.  We are growing impatient with the mounting deaths every summer and would like to know your short term plans to aggressively pursue a technological solution rather than solely relying on awareness campaigns?


 

We strongly support the Unattended Children Warning System (Sec.206) provision Senators Bill Nelson (D-FL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Ed Markey (D-MA) included in S. 1743, the Motor Vehicle Safety Act introduced this month.  What are your plans to support the provision to move forward with a regulation to prevent these tragedies?


 

On the eve of tomorrow's National Heatstroke Prevention and Awareness Day, we, the undersigned grieving parents urge NHTSA to finally make this a priority by moving to issue a vehicle safety standard.  This will never bring our children back, but we are committed to helping keep other families complete so they do not have to live with the grief and guilt we and our families deal with on a daily basis.


 

Kyle & Lindsey Seitz, Esq.

Colorado Springs, CO

Parent Advocate, KidsAndCars.org

Parents of Benjamin Seitz

Died in a hot car 07/07/2014


 

Melody, Todd, Emily & Kacey Costello

Medina, OH

Advocates, KidsAndCars.org

Parents of Tyler John Costello

Died in a hot car 07/29/2002


 

Mary & Jeff Parks

Blacksburg, VA

Parent Advocate, KidsAndCars.org

Parents of Juan Turner Parks

Died in a hot car 07/07/2007

 

Byron Parks

Blacksburg, VA

Friend of KidsAndCars.org

Brother of Juan Turner Parks

Died in a hot car 07/07/2007


 

Jane and Arnold Sporleder

Kernersville, NC

Friend of KidsAndCars.org

Grandparents of Juan Turner Parks

Died in a hot car 07/07/2007


 

Marian and Tom Eisinger

Bowie, MD

Friend of KidsAndCars.org

Aunt and Uncle of Juan Turner Parks

Died in a hot car 07/07/2007


 

Heather Eisinger

Bowie, MD

Friend of KidsAndCars.org

1st Cousin of Juan Turner Parks

Died in a hot car 07/07/2007


 

David and Doye Carroll

Tyler, TX

Parent Advocate, KidsAndCars.org

Grandparents of Riley Hays

Died in a hot car 09/06/2005


 

Jodie Edwards

Liberty Township, OH

Parent Advocate, KidsAndCars.org

Parent of Jenna Edwards

Died in a hot car 08/20/2008


 

Richie Gray

Hartsville, SC

Parent Advocate, KidsAndCars.org

Parent of Sophia Jane Goyeneche-Gray

Died in a hot car 05/08/2014


 

Amie Duemer
Lubbock, Texas
Parent Advocate, KidsAndCars.org
Parent of Josef Duemer
Died in a hot car 08/03/2005


 

Stephanie and Israel Pinon

Hobbs, NM

Parent Advocate, KidsAndCars.org

Parents Jahzel Pinon

Died in a hot car 07/14/2010


 

Marie Muir

Norton, VA

Family/Friend of Gannon Werking

Died in a hot car 7/23/2009


 

Michelle Shalaby

Alexandria, Egypt

Family/Friend of Gannon Werking

Died in a hot car 7/23/2009


 

Karie Castle

Johnson City, TN

Family/Friend of Gannon Werking

Died in a hot car 7/23/2009


 

Casey Taylor

Johnson City, TN

Family/Friend of Gannon Werking

Died in a hot car 7/23/2009


 

Bruce Wilson

Norton, VA

Family/Friend of Gannon Werking

Died in a hot car 7/23/2009


 

Christiana Robinette

Norton, VA

Family/Friend of Gannon Werking

Died in a hot car 7/23/2009


 

Becky Lagow

Norton, VA

Family/Friend of Gannon Werking

Died in a hot car 7/23/2009


 

Brian Marcus

Wise, VA

Family/Friend of Gannon Werking

Died in a hot car 7/23/2009


 

Beth Powell

Vero Beach, FL

Family/Friend of Gannon Werking

Died in a hot car 7/23/2009


 

Blair Quesenberry

Kingsport, TN

Family/Friend of Gannon Werking

Died in a hot car 7/23/2009

Blair Quesenberry

Kingsport, TN

Family/Friend of Gannon Werking

Died in a hot car 7/23/2009




Allison & Matt Werner

Austin, TX

Advocate, KidsAndCars.org

Had a near miss with my son 07/02/2015


 

Diane Fisher

Austin, TX

Daughter had a near miss with my grandson 07/02/2015


 

Aaron Roth

Austin, TX

Sister had a near miss with my niece 07/02/2015


 

Dawn & Weston Peabody

Phoenix, AZ

Parent Advocate, KidsAndCars.org

Parents of Maya Peabody

Died in a hot car 10/18/2008


 

Robert Reynolds

Phoenix, AZ

Grandfather of Maya Peabody

Died in a hot car 10/18/2008


 

Vera Reynolds

Mesa, AZ

Grandmother of Maya Peabody

Died in a hot car 10/18/2008


 

David Graepler

Phoenix, AZ

Cousin of Maya Peabody

Died in a hot car 10/18/2008


 

Megan, Steve, Ariana and Cole Guerra

League City, TX

Advocates, KidsAndCars.org

Family of Lillian Kathryn Guerra

Died in a hot car 9/4/2013


 

Carol MacDonald
Penn Laird, VA
Advocate, KidsAndCars.org
Grandparent of Robert D. MacDonald
Died in a hot car on 08/29/1998


 

Raychele, Samuel, Ashton Garza & Samuel Layden Jackson

Roanoke, Virginia

Family Advocates, KidsAndCars.org

Parents & Siblings of River Lyn Nicole Jackson

Died in a hot car 08/31/2014


 

Jennifer Stevenson

Missouri City, TX

Parent Advocate, KidsAndCars.org

Family friend of Angel, Luke Jacobson

Died in a hot car in 2012


 

Stephanie Salvilla

Orlando, Florida

Parent Advocate, KidsAndCars.org

Parents of Gannon Werking

Died in a hot car on 07/23/2009


 

Amber Rollins

Olathe, KS

Director & Volunteer Manager

KidsAndCars.org

Near miss with friend's daughter 12/7/2003


 

Jill Kennedy

Seattle, WA

Family/Friend of Gannon Werking

Died in a hot car 7/23/2009


 

Jack and Melissa Kennedy

Largo, FL

Family/Friend of Gannon Werking

Died in a hot car 7/23/2009


 

Susan Kennedy

Abingdon, VA

Family/Friend of Gannon Werking

Died in a hot car 7/23/2009

 

Eileen and Michael Owens

Abingdon, VA

Family/Friend of Gannon Werking

Died in a hot car 7/23/2009


 

Anna Knapp

Saxonbury, PA

Family/Friend of Gannon Werking

Died in a hot car 7/23/2009


 

Veronica Knapp

Saxonbury, PA

Family/Friend of Gannon Werking

Died in a hot car 7/23/2009


 

Emma Muir

Washington, DC

Family/Friend of Gannon Werking

Died in a hot car 7/23/2009


 

Sally McCann

Orlando, FL

Family/Friend of Gannon Werking

Died in a hot car 7/23/200


 

Deona Ryan

Summerville, SC

Nurse & Parent Advocate, KidsAndCars.org

Mother of Aslyn Ryan

Died in a hot car 02/07/2004


 


 


 


 


 

Jenny and Mike Stanley

Alpharetta, GA

Parent Advocate, KidsAndCars.org

Parents of Sydney Stanley

Died in a hot car 08/22/2010

John Buchanan
Snellville GA
Uncle of Sydney Stanley

Died in a hot car 08/22/2010

Linda Buchanan
Columbus, GA

Grandmother of Sydney Stanley

Died in a hot car 08/22/2010

Wanda Johnson
Columbus, GA

Grandmother of Sydney Stanley

Died in a hot car 08/22/2010

Connie Newsome
Columbus, GA

Aunt of Sydney Stanley

Died in a hot car 08/22/2010


 

Becky, Matt, Sarah & AJ Lavine

Scottsdale, AZ

Aunt, Uncle, cousins of Sydney Stanley

Died in a hot car 08/22/2010


 

Ricky, Donna, Payton, Stephanie & Lahaina

Columbus, GA

Aunt, Uncle, cousins of Sydney Stanley

Died in a hot car 08/22/2010


 

Keirsten Pierce

Atlanta, GA

Cousin of Sydney Stanley

Died in a hot car 08/22/2010


 

Kathy, Larry, Angie, Shane and Jill Robbins

Greenville, GA

Aunt, Uncle, cousins of Sydney Stanley

Died in a hot car 08/22/2010


 

Deloris Adams

Greenville, GA

Aunt of Sydney Stanley

Died in a hot car 08/22/2010


 

Beth Bogue

Salt Lake City, UT

Cousin of Sydney Stanley

Died in a hot car 08/22/2010


 

Lyn and Jaret Balfour

Earlysville, VA

Parent Advocate, KidsAndCars.org
Parents of Bryce Balfour

Died in a hot car 03/30/2007


 

Jennifer Rose Hilton

Midlothian, IL

Parent Advocate, KidsAndCars.org

Mother of Christopher Hilton

Inadvertently left in hot car and survived 10/06/2010


 

Todd Hilton

Midlothian, IL

Step-father of Christopher Hilton

Inadvertently left in hot car and survived 10/06/2010


 

Melanie Neach

Vero Beach, FL

Family/Friend of Gannon Werking

Died in a hot car 7/23/2009


 

Melissa Lyttle

Orlando, Florida

Parent Advocate, KidsAndCars.org

Parents of Gannon Werking

Died in a hot car on 07/23/2009


 

Jocelyn Bernhardt

Whitehall, MD

Parent Advocate, KidsAndCars.org

Parents of Gannon Werking

Died in a hot car on 07/23/2009


 

Kevin and Jennifer Salvilla

Hickman, TN

Family/Friend of Gannon Werking

Died in a hot car 7/23/2009


 

Melanie Coleman

Norton, VA

Family/Friend of Gannon Werking

Died in a hot car 7/23/2009


 

Angie Ryan

Norton, VA

Family/Friend of Gannon Werking

Died in a hot car 7/23/2009


 

Celeste Werking

Aliquippa, PA

Family/Friend of Gannon Werking

Died in a hot car 7/23/2009


 

Sarah Tilson

Chilhowie, VA

Family/Friend of Gannon Werking

Died in a hot car 7/23/2009


 

Karen, Mark, Emily, Abby Murphy

Bristow, VA

Parent Advocate, KidsAndCars.org

Parents of  Ryan Murphy

Died in a hot car 06/17/2011



 


 


 


 



 


 


 


 


 


 


 

The following signatures were added to the letter after it was sent;


 

Kaveh Abtahi
Columbia, MD
Friend Advocate, KidsandCars.org 
Friend of Gannon Werking
Died 7/23/2009
 
Alison Kochenderfer
Havre de Grace, MD
Friend Advocate, KidsandCars.org 
Friend of Gannon Werking
Died 7/23/2009

Ivana Goal
Falls Church, VA
Friend Advocate, KidsandCars.org 
Friend of Gannon Werking
Died 7/23/2009

Cynthia Gutierrez
Washington DC
Friend Advocate, KidsandCars.org 
Friend of Gannon Werking
Died 7/23/2009

De'shaud Johnson
Atlanta Georgia
Friend Advocate, KidsandCars.org 
Friend of Gannon Werking
Died 7/23/2009

Nahom Estifanos
Falls Church, VA
Friend Advocate, KidsandCars.org 
Friend of Gannon Werking
Died 7/23/2009