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By: Bill Curtis 1:49 PM Wednesday, July 19th, 2006 Viewed 39 times. Rating: 0

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Do not leave a child unattended in a car - not for a minute, not for a second. That’s the message from the Bakersfield Police Department and the California State Legislature since the passage of the SB 255 “Unattended Child in Motor Vehicle Act” which became effective on January 1, 2002. Due to the soaring temperatures this week, the Crime Prevention Unit of the Bakersfield Police Department is once again launching an awareness campaign to make parents and childcare givers aware of this serious hazard.

The law has been named and cited as “Kaitlyn’s Law” and makes it an infraction, punishable by a fine of $100, for any person responsible for a child 6 years of age or younger, to leave that child unattended in a motor vehicle without the supervision of someone at least 12 years of age or older. On August 15, 2000, Kaitlyn Russell, 6 months old, was left by her babysitter in a closed car in 100 degree heat for several hours in Riverside, California. Rescue workers say she died within the first half hour. Kaitlyn’s mother, Tammy Russell, has worked with her mother to establish “4 R Kids’ Sake”, an organization devoted to raising awareness of the dangers of leaving children unattended.

Since 1996 at least 276 children in the U.S. have died in hot, parked cars, 42 of those were from last year alone. With the extreme heat of Bakersfield already underway, the Bakersfield Police Department is once again launching an awareness campaign with posters and fliers to emphasize how quickly this tragedy could occur. Studies have shown that within 20 minutes the air temperature in a previously air-conditioned small car exposed to the sun on a 95° F day exceeded 122° F inside. Within 40 minutes the temperature soared to 150° F. Leaving a window slightly opened or cracked did little to prevent the temperature from rising to a level that is dangerous for children, vulnerable adults and pets.

To join in the local awareness effort, call the Bakersfield Police Department 326-3196 or contact the “4 R Kids’ Sake” website at www.4rkidssake.org to receive information about this law.

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