Safe Kids:Prevent Trunk Entrapment

By Safe Kids/PIO
Sept. 24, 2009

Unlocked cars are open invitations for children to explore. To keep kids safer around vehicles, they must learn that cars are not toys and a trunk is never a good place to play.

Children can access trunks in several ways, even without having the vehicle’s keys. Most cars have a lever or button located near the driver’s seat that pops the trunk open, while other cars also have fold-down seats or a “pass through” that enables children to climb into the trunk from the back seat.

Safety Tips To help prevent children from being trapped inside a car’s trunk, follow these safety tips: Always lock a vehicle’s doors and trunk – especially when parked in the driveway or near the home – and keep keys out of children’s sight and reach. If a child is missing, check vehicles and trunks first. Teach children that trunks are only used to transport cargo and are not safe places to play. If your child gets locked inside a car, get him out and dial 9-1-1 or your local emergency number immediately to check for signs of heat stroke. Show older children how to locate and use the emergency trunk release found in newer cars. Keep the rear fold-down seats closed to help prevent kids from getting into the trunk from inside the car. Be aware of child-resistant locks. Teach older children how to disable the driver’s door locks should they become unintentionally entrapped in a motor vehicle. A toddler will not know to climb into the front seat to climb out of the vehicle. If you see an unattended child in a car dial 9-1-1- immediately.

Q&A of the Week

Q: What is an emergency trunk release and how does it work?

A: Cars manufactured after 2001 must have an emergency trunk release – a glow-in-the-dark handle that will open the trunk from the inside in an emergency. Simply pull the handle and the trunk pops open. Teach your older kids how to use the emergency release once they are strong enough to use it to open the trunk but never allow your child to get into the trunk to test it.

Source: Safe Kids

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com