Baby + Funeral... 2 Words That Should Never Go Together -

Do I have your attention? I hope so. This post will be a little different than our usual car care posts. This one will not be funny, sassy or light. There is no humor, no sarcasm or levity when it comes to babies dying from heat strokes in cars. There is only tragedy, devastation and the heart wrenching question: WHY?

July 31, 2014 is National Heat Stroke Prevention Day

Why are some children buckled and strapped securely in their safety seats, usually by the loving hands of parents and caregivers, only to be overlooked, unintentionally forgotten or unfortunately, even deliberately left unattended in hot cars? I won’t pretend to know, or even claim that I have the beginning of an answer.

I count myself fortunate that I don’t lie awake at night asking myself that question, “Why?” I am grateful that I don’t live in a constant state of guilt, regret, confusion and incomprehension wrapped in unbearable grief. I am one of the lucky parents who although I have left my groceries, purse, phone and even keys in the car for hours on end, have never left my child.

Although some children are left on purpose, by people who plan to run errands, get their hair done, or gamble “for just a few minutes,” the majority of children who die in hot cars are left in them entirely by accident. To me, this type of tragedy is like a tornado. There is no rhyme or reason – it destroys some homes and leaves others completely untouched. My children and I are among the “untouched,” here to live another day.

In an effort to raise awareness and help save these most innocent and helpless of lives, Women Auto Know is dedicating this blog and all social media posts today to National Heat Stroke Prevention Day.

Throughout the next few days, WAK will be providing:

Some hard statistics on deaths
Information about the dangers of car temperatures
Tips on how to prevent this
Resources for those grieving from this type of loss
A platform for a continuing conversation about this here in our comments section, and through Facebook and Twitter

In closing, we ask that you keep your comments aligned with our mission to empower and educate. We welcome your personal experiences, your stories, and most importantly, your solutions to situations that could endanger children in cars, whether they are heat stroke related or not.

Please take advantage of the resources we provide and continue this conversation through social media and in person. Encourage your friends and family members to Join the Women Auto Know community for FREE, so that they can stay informed, educated and empowered on this and all other automotive topics.