(Medina, Ohio) – Police are investigating after a 6-month-old girl dies after being left in a hot car for more than two hours.
According to reports, police responded to Ray Mellert Park in Medina shortly after 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. The child had been left in the vehicle during a baseball tournament at the park.
The baby was rushed to Cleveland Clinic Medina Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Weekend temperatures in the Medina area reached 90 degrees with high humidity, according to the National Weather Service.
In a recent article on Newsymom.com, Safe Kids Worldwide encouraged parents and caregivers to ACT:
A: Avoid heatstroke-related injury and death by NEVER leaving a child alone in a car, not even for a minute. And, make sure to keep your car locked when you’re not inside so kids don’t get in on their own.
C: Create reminders. Keep a stuffed animal or another memento in your child’s car seat when it is empty and move it to the front seat as a visual reminder when your child is in the back seat. Or place and secure your phone, briefcase or purse in the backseat when traveling with your child.
T: Take action. If you see a child alone in a car, call 911. Emergency personnel wants you to call. They are trained to respond.
According to noheatstroke.org, as of Monday, July 16th, 767 children had died due to pediatric heatstroke since 1998 nationwide. The local case marks 24 in the country this year. Officials stress that July is the deadliest month for children to die in hot cars.
Additionally, experts with Trinity Hospital Twin City continue to stress the importance of hydration and other steps to avoid heat stroke and heat-related injuries over the summer months.
