If you have to be told that “heat kills” maybe you shouldn’t be driving

Or having kids. That’s not to understate the tragedy of hyperthermia in parked cars, which kills at least 27 children every year. It’s the number-one, non-crash vehicle-related cause of death for of our nation’s kids, according to the Transportation Department.

But it begs the question: If our government has to tell us that “heat kills” — as it did this morning — then how close are we to achieving a nanny state?

The actual information provided by the federal government is practical, to the point of being painfully obvious:

Don’t leave a child unattended in a vehicle–whether the windows are open or closed, whether the air conditioner is running or not. Do not. Ever.

Teach your children that a car is not a place to play.

It’s great advice — but, wait, seriously? Drivers don’t know this?

For the parents who lack this common sense, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also has even more helpful advice.

I’m conflicted about today’s announcement. On one hand, I think the government should tell its citizens how to prevent these and other tragedies. On the other hand, shouldn’t we already know this?

And those of us who don’t, do they have any business driving? Or even, having kids?

(Photo: Department of Transportation)

  • Ryan

    I think this is just another reflection on the litigious society we live in. Take a look at the product warnings on the items you use every day. I have an iron that warns me not to iron the clothes while I’m wearing them. You would think that that is also common sense, but yet, it’s there.

  • MVFlyer

    If common sense prevailed, we wouldn’t need:

    Seat belt laws
    Warnings on cigarette packages, electronics, and hot coffee cups
    Etc. etc. ad nauseam

    Yet every year, there are children who are left in cars in the middle of summer without sufficient ventilation, who are severely injured or die. Sometimes by accident, sometimes not.

    And Chris, as you put it–these folks shouldn’t be driving, let alone having kids…at least there’s a test for driving!!

  • Em Hoop

    I’s just too easy to get a driver’s license in USA.
    And there always will be people too ignorant to save their own lives. They drive onto flooded roads and get swept away. They refuse rescue when their houses are flooded to the second floor. They drink whole bottles of booze or gallons of beer to win bets and/or prove their ‘manhood.’
    They leave weapons where children can find them, and loaded, too.
    They refuse medical care for their children. They leave their dogs in hot cars, too. They eat too much.
    On and on. I credit the fact of both parents often working for some of this. They don’t have enough hours in the day to teach their kids survival skills–the kids are left with child watchers, not child guidance teachers. Plus a few parents –and/or their children–are just dim bulbs in the box.
    So much that seems like common sense is often a social issue instead. But saying all this makes me seem judgmental….oh, well……

  • BucksterSF

    Never underestimate the stupidity of the American public.

  • Jack

    Well, I guess I better not leave my kids in my car when I run in to the store to buy my beer and cigarettes anymore. At least I can still let them play with the plastic shopping bags.

  • James

    I had top take on online Defensive Drivers Course, so I could operate State Vehicles. One of the Modules was “Why Do Trains Have the Right of Way”.

  • Teri

    This morning, June 13, 2010, the car parked next to mine at Cracker Barrel in Orlando, Florida had several dogs in it. The high today was about 90 degrees, making it about 120 degrees in the car.

  • PauletteB

    Forrest’s mama was right: Stupid is as stupid does — and people are getting stupider by the moment. In my home state, they had to pass ANOTHER law prohibiting texting while driving because people were too stupid to realize that the law against hand-holding your cell phone to make a call while driving didn’t extend to texting. Unless you explicitly tell people they cannot do something, many are going to think it’s OK.

  • Ed

    And what about people who do this to their animals? Does Fido *REALLY* need to come with you to the liquor store? Leave him home…it’s safer!