News

Circle BMW, the region’s leading BMW dealership, today announced the launch of a public awareness campaign that reminds parents and caregivers to never leave children unattended in a vehicle, where temperatures can rise to dangerous levels, especially in warmer summer months. In partnership with the New Jersey Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers (NJ CAR), Circle BMW is helping to spread this important, life-saving message.

 The campaign, “Not Even for a Minute,” reminds parents and caregivers that children left unattended in a car, even for a short time, can result in abduction, dehydration, injury or death. The risk of a serious injury or death during hot weather is heightened for children left alone in a vehicle, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

 A report issued last month by the NHTSA[1] estimates that there were 262 fatalities and 115,000 injuries to children 14 and younger in non-traffic crashes and non-crash incidents in 2007. 218 fatalities and 10,000 injuries to children occurred in non-traffic crashes such as single-vehicle crashes on private roads, driveways and parking lots. The remaining 44 fatalities and 105,000 injuries to children occurred in non-crash incidents such as hyperthermia, vehicle window asphyxia, struck by object and carbon monoxide poisoning from vehicle exhaust. 

 Hyperthermia (heatstroke) accounted for an annual average of 27 child fatalities and accounted for 61 percent (27 of 44) of the non-crash fatalities involving children[2]. According to DCF, one child died after being left in a vehicle last summer in New Jersey.

Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, Kimberly Ricketts said, “Parents and caregivers must know that an unspeakable tragedy can happen in a matter of minutes. The message is simple – no matter how busy you get, you must never leave a child unattended.” Ricketts added, “Through DCF’s partnership with NJ CAR and automotive dealers such as Circle BMW, we have launched this campaign to raise awareness about the potential dangers to children when they are in and around motor vehicles.”

James Appleton, president of NJ CAR said, “NJ car and truck retailers throughout New Jersey have always been among the first to lend their support when a community needs to promote an important message and none is more important than the safety of our children.”

“The consequences – too often unthinkable – of leaving a child unattended in a car can be prevented,” said Thomas DeFelice, president of Circle BMW. “We remain committed to ensuring the safety of our customers and look forward to spreading this powerful message to them as well as residents throughout central New Jersey.”

“Not Even for a Minute” outlines tips for parents and caregivers to help keep kids safe around cars, including:

• Never leave a child unattended in a car. Not even for a minute.
• Always lock your car and secure the keys so that your kids can’t get to them.
• Warn your children about playing in and around cars.
• Install a trunk release mechanism so that kids can’t get trapped inside the trunk.
• Get your kids out of the car first, and then worry about unloading the groceries and items out of the car.

For additional safety tips and information on how to keep kids safe in and around vehicles, visit www.state.nj.us/dcf/ or www.nhtsa.gov/KeepingKidsSafe.

Sources:  [1] & 2 NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis, “Not-in-Traffic Surveillance 2007 – Children” June 2009