FAQ

Q1: What is Kids In Cars?

A1: Kids In Cars is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit agency, based in St. Louis , Mo. , dedicated to the prevention of injuries and deaths due to children being left unattended in or around motor vehicles.

Q2: Who founded Kids In Cars?

A2: Terrill and Michele Struttmann founded Kids in Cars in 1999 after two toddlers, left unattended in a running vehicle, set it in motion and killed the Struttmann's 2-year-old son, Harrison. The Struttmanns have since devoted their lives to preventing similar accidents.

Q3: What is the goal of Kids In Cars?

A3: To save lives and reduce the number of serious injuries resulting from children being left alone in or around cars.

Q4: Does Kids In Cars have a Web site?

A4: Yes. Information about Kids In Cars can be found on the Internet at www.kidsincars.org.

Q5: Does Kids In Cars have any partners and who are they?

A5: Kids In Cars has partnered with 4R Kids Sake to help document incidents for Kids in Car's national database. Kids In Cars also works with service clubs across the country including Kiwanis International, Optimist International and Rotary International.

Q6: How can my organization partner with Kids In Cars?

A6: Kids In Cars is constantly in need of individuals who can donate either time or money to help further this cause. To get involved, please visit our Web site or send an e-mail to contactus@kidsincars.org.

Q7: Does Kids In Cars have offices outside of Missouri?

A7: Kids In Cars currently only has one office in Washington , Mo. However we are looking to build a network of spokes persons across the country to help achieve our goal of raising awareness about this important issue.

Q8: How do I become a Kids In Cars spokesperson?

A8: If you are interested in spreading the word on behalf of Kids In Cars, please visit our Web site or send an e-mail to contactus@kidsincars.org.

Q9: Does Kids In Cars have materials available for distribution?

A9: Yes. Kids In Cars has a variety of educational materials available for distribution including fact sheets, tip sheets, take-action activity documents, brochures, posters, public service announcements, videos, magnets and window clings.

Q10: Where can I get Kids In Cars materials?

A10: Tip sheets, fact sheets and take-action activity documents are available for free from our Web site download center. Other educational materials are available for purchase through our Web site.

Q11: Does Kids In Cars have an annual fundraiser?

A11: Kids In Cars hosts an annual fundraising auction in March. In 2006, the auction raised more than $33,000. The success of the event ensures the continuation of Kids In Cars' lifesaving work.

Q12: How can I help Kids In Cars?

A12: Everyone can help. Ten ways you can get started today include:

Accept responsibility. Never leave children alone in a car and never allow them to play in or around vehicles, "not even for a minute".
Watch the news. Forward information and local newspaper clips reporting incidents of children left unattended in or around vehicles to KIC. This will help maintain the national Kids In Cars database. Please send clips to contactus@kidsincars.org or the address below.
Speak up. Write to local and state legislators about this important safety issue. Sample legislation and letters can be found at www.kidsincars.org/m_nav/legislation.html.
Raise awareness. Publish articles about the dangers of leaving children unattended in or around vehicles in community organization, religious and school newsletters.
Stay alert. Keep an eye out for unattended children in parking lots and other locations where vehicles are parked. Leave a Kids In Cars brochure on the windshield of any vehicle where children have been left unattended. If you fear the children are in imminent danger, or if the caregiver does not return within five minutes, call 911. Stay with the children until there is a safe environment.
Lock-up. Never leave your vehicle unlocked or let your children play in or around any vehicle. Unlocked vehicles pose serious risks to children who are naturally curious, even if there are no keys in the ignition.
Eliminate temptation. Car trunks can be a tempting, secret place to hide. Teach children about the dangers of a car and never leave car keys within the reach of children.
Reach out. Kids In Cars is building a network of spokespersons in all 50 states. Please connect us with people in your area who are interested in sharing their experiences about children left unattended in or around vehicles through the Kids In Cars organization.
Purchase. Purchase and distribute Kids In Cars education materials.
Donate. Kids In Cars is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. All donations are 100 percent tax deductible.

INCIDENTS & FATALITIES

Q13: What are the dangers of leaving children alone in or around cars?

A13: Anyone can become a victim of these preventable deaths and injuries, but children are especially at risk. Risks can and do include abduction, heat stroke, hypothermia, setting a vehicle in motion, trunk entrapment and even fatal car crashes.

Q14: Why focus on this issue?

A14: People leave children unattended in or around vehicles more frequently than you may think. Kids In Cars has documented more than 2,600 incidents involving children left alone in or around motor vehicles since 2000. In addition, it is not illegal in many states to leave children unattended in or around vehicles.

Q15: Who tracks the incidents that occur as a result of leaving children unattended in or around cars?

A15: No federal or state agency is currently collecting information related to deaths and injuries that occur as non-traffic incidents on private property.

Q16: Then, how can Kids In Cars know the number of incidents that occur as a result of leaving children unattended in or around cars?

A16: Kids In Cars maintains its own national database to evaluate the circumstances and consequences of leaving children unattended in or around cars.

Q17: How does Kids In Cars maintain its database of incidents?

A17: Kids In Cars has partnered with 4R Kids Sake to document incidents through the collection of newspaper clips and broadcast stories reporting incidents of children left unattended in or around vehicles.

Q18: How many incidents have been documented?

A18: So far in 2006, Kids In Cars has documented 523 incidents involving 664 children left unattended in or around vehicles and 120 children who have lost their lives in these incidents. Overall since 2000, Kids In Cars has documented more than 3,100 incidents involving 3,955 children. See chart for incidents tracked since 2000.

Year	Incidents	Kids Involved	Fatalities
2006	523	664	120
2005	449	534	154
2004	443	560	120
2003	583	727	143
2002	432	591	116
2001	381	465	94
2000	321	414	71

(as of 12/5/06)

Q19: What are the most common fatalities involving children left alone in or around a car?

A19: More than 80 percent of these fatalities result from hot weather or back over accidents.

Hot and cold weather: The temperature inside a car can reach deadly levels within minutes, even with the windows open a little. Heat exhaustion, hypothermia and even death can occur.
Backing up: It's difficult for drivers to see small children when they back up. Cross-view mirrors and backup detection devices can help drivers see the rear of their vehicle.

Q20: How can deaths or injuries be prevented?

A20: The best thing adults can do is never leave children alone in or around a car, not even for a minute. We offer the following tips to help prevent accidents:

Keep vehicles locked at all times - even in the garage or driveway.
Never leave keys within the reach of children.
Teach children to never play in or around vehicles.
Consider installing cross-view mirrors and/or a backup detection device on your vehicle.
Make sure all young passengers have left your car after it is parked.
When a child is missing, check vehicles and trunks immediately.
If a child is locked inside a vehicle, get him or her out as quickly as possible. If the child is hot or appears sick, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.

Q21: What can I do if I see children left unattended in a vehicle?

A21: Help Kids In Cars raise awareness about this important issue. Do not be afraid to tell parents or caregivers about the dangers when you see anyone leaving children unattended in a vehicle. Kids In Cars recommends leaving a "Not Even for a Minute" flyer on the windshield of any vehicle that has children left unattended. If possible, stay with the children until the responsible party returns, or call 911 if they do not return within five minutes (or sooner if you fear the children are in imminent danger).

Q22: How many states have legislation about leaving kids alone in cars?

A22: Eleven states have laws protecting children left unattended in cars. The states with this legislation are: California , Connecticut , Florida , Illinois , Louisiana , Maryland , Nebraska , Nevada (Effective October 1, 2005), Pennsylvania , Texas , and Washington.

Q23: Do any other states have similar legislation?

A23: Kentucky and Missouri have laws that take effect if an injury or fatality occurs when a child is left unattended in a motor vehicle.

Q24: Are there any states with pending legislation?

A24: Yes. In 2006, at least six states have pending legislation including: Hawaii , Iowa , Massachusetts , Missouri , Oklahoma, and Tennessee.

Q25: Is anyone addressing the issue on a national level?

A25: Kids In Cars is not currently lobbying in Washington D.C. for preventative legislation. It is our understanding that the type of legislation we are pursuing should be mandated at the state level. However, we would like to see the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Center for Disease Control (CDC) track incidents involving kids in and around cars to show the true magnitude of the issue.

Q26: Has Kids In Cars conducted any lobbying regarding this legislation?

A26: Kids In Cars has successfully lobbied to pass a law in its home state of Missouri . The law calls for a person to be prosecuted if they knowingly leave a child under the age of 10 unattended in a vehicle. On May 12, 2000 , a bill passed the Missouri legislature that makes it a felony if a person is killed as a result of someone leaving a child in a car. Kids In Cars continues to pursue legislation in the states that do not already have preventative laws. If you are interested in helping Kids In Cars pursue legislation in your state, visit the Kids In Cars Web site or send an e-mail to contactus@kidsincars.org.

Q27: What has Kids in Cars done so far to promote the adoption of new legislation?

A27: Kids In Cars is working with legislators in several states to raise the level of awareness regarding children being left alone inside vehicles and is pursuing preventative legislation in all 50 states.

Q28: These incidents don't happen too often. Why should state or federal governments get involved with criminal legislation?

A28: Because these deadly incidents are preventable. Legislation can raise awareness of the issue and serve as a deterrent to adults leaving children alone in or around vehicles.