June 1, 2011 UPDATE from Jan Null who contacted the author to affirm he did not use the term "simply" forgotten:
"Hi Margo....That’s not a term I would use, because there is nothing simple about this issue that I have been working on for 10 years in July. Each case is a tragedy on many many levels, including the families, responders, researchers, child safety advocates etc. I am affected by each case I document, not only as a scientist but as a parent and recently a grandparent.
All of my research and time has been self-funded. I am part-time faculty at SF State Univ. and don’t receive time or money for research. But it is an important issue that needs to be addressed and I am blessed to be able to at least try and make a difference.
Regards,
Jan
My sentiments are the same in the information I publish to the parent, the public, elected officials and advocates.
To obtain compelling information please copy and paste into your browser Jan Null's website: http://ggweather.com/heat/#faq
Or simply Google:
Hyperthermia Deaths of Children in Vehicles by Jan Null, CCM Department of Geosciences, SFSU
Here's the original article I linked and addressed. A thank you to Jan Null for the clarification and for the work he's doing to prevent this rising tragedy.
Kennesaw PD continues investigating death of child left in car | ajc.com
I hope expert Jan Null, expert in babies dying in hot cars was misquoted in saying people simply forgot a baby in the back seat.
When I worked as a child care licensor for 13 years, not once did I "simply" forget to go to work.
People may have tragically forgotten, but not simply forgotten
Importantly, Null gives us a heads up on his research that almost 1/2 of the babies died while with a caregiver which could be a licensed or unlicensed adult responsible for the baby.
Strikingly, the deaths have increased since we've been required to keep the kids in the backseat.
From the news article: "Jan Null, a researcher in the Department of Geosciences at San Francisco State State University was quoted in this news article as saying, It happens to a lot of people, Null said. There have been doctors and school principals and day-care owners. People across the board.And in half those cases it was because people simply forgot the child was in the backseat, Null said."
See Jan Null's website at: http://ggweather.com/heat/#faq
"Airbags vs. Hyperthermia Deaths
In the three-year period of 1990-1992, before airbags became popular, there were only 11 known deaths of children from hyperthermia.
In the most recent three-year period of 2006-2009, when almost all young children are now placed in back seats instead of front seats, there have been at least 108 known fatalities from hyperthermia...a ten-fold increase from the rate of the early 1990s. (graphic) [Important note: This in no way implies that it is advocated that children be placed in the front seat or that airbags be disabled.]
"Circumstances
An examination of media reports about the 494 child vehicular hyperthermia deaths for an thirteen year period (1998 through 2010) shows the following circumstances:
51% - child "forgotten" by caregiver (253 Children)
30% - child playing in unattended vehicle (150)
17% - child intentionally left in vehicle by adult (86)
1% - circumstances unknown (5)
Children's thermoregulatory systems are not as efficient as an adult's and their body temperatures warm at a rate 3 to 5 times faster than an adult’s."
What I know as a former licensor the secret kept from the public and parents related to licensed day care is the serious problem of day care providers and centers operating at overcapacity and not having enough staff.
Overcapacity and lack of supervision is a BIG health and safety issue for your baby, your kid...your children in unlicensed and licensed child care.
People don't simply forget to go to work and people don't simply forget about a baby in the backseat.
Why they forgot is a vital life and death issue to figure out. I'll send my article to Jan Null. Maybe the University can conduct research to answer the "why" question.
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