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Monday April 22, 2002, 01:30:03 AM
The heat's on in Bakersfield in more ways than one.
With the hot summer months nearly upon us, the Bakersfield Police Department is sounding the warning: Don't leave a child unattended in a vehicle for a minute or even a second.
"Kaitlyn's Law," which went into effect Jan. 1, makes it an infraction punishable by a $100 fine for anyone to leave a child 6 years of age or younger in a vehicle without the supervision of someone at least 12 years of age.
The law stems from the August 2000 death of 6-month-old Kaitlyn Russell who was left unattended by a baby sitter in a closed car in Riverside. Kaitlyn's mother and grandmother established "4 R Kids' Sake" to bring attention to the dangers of leaving children unattended.
Since 1996, at least 120 children in the U.S. died in hot, parked cars 27 of those were from last year alone. Within 20 minutes of being parked in 95 degree temperatures, a previously air conditioned closed car will have an internal temperature of 122 degrees. Within 40 minutes, the temperature will climb to 150 degrees.
Law enforcement has pledged to come down hard on those who callously expose children to these fatal temperatures. To join in the local awareness effort, call the Bakersfield Police Department at 326-3196 or click on to www.4rkidssake.org.